PERSONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 8, 22 February 1911, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES.

Miss Kate V. Edgvrly. 8.A., has left Auckland to take up a position at "Craven,'’ Palmerston North; ’ Mr Bert Webb, 'son of Mr T. Webb/ merchant, Fort-street, left for London last week to take up a position with * mercantile firm in that city. A petition is at present being circulated at Northeote for the purpose of asking Mr A- E. Greenslade to become a candidate for the position of Mayor. Dr F. W. Ward, editor of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph,” who is a native of New Zealand, arrived by the Macedonia last week. He intends to spend some weeks in New Zealand. Mr A. D. Lubecki returned to Auckland by the s.s. Macedonia after an absence of six years spent in England and on the Continent. Mr Lubecki is at present staying at "Stonehurst.” Mr and Mrs W G. Smith, of Kernel Bay, left by Macedonia last week on an extended tour to the old country. After spending the summer in England, they, propose to spend the winter on the continent. There were eight applications for the position of resident surgeon of the Nelson Hospital (vacant through the resignation of Dr. Mackay). Mr. H. E. A, Washbourn, M.D., was selected.—Press Association. Sir Richard Baker. American ViceConsul in the Commonwealth, is coming to New Zealand to prepare commercial reports on the Dominion’s trade, similar to those which he has prepared on Australian trade. Messrs John Strauehon (SurveyorGmeral) and Thomas Humphreys (late Surveyor-General of New Zealand) have returned from Hobart, where they had been attending a conference of the profession to make arrangements for tha

Ma H <■ proposed to hold in London next May. Lieut-Colond D’Arey Chaytor of Blenheim, waaa passenger by the Macedonia for England. Wliile at Home, he proposes attending the Bisley Rifle meeting, and will take a course of instruction at the Longmoor Mounted Infantry School and also see some cavalry work at Aidershot. Lieut-Col. Chaytor expects to be away from New Zealand about eight months. Mr. Charles Ratgen is at present up from Napier spending a week in Auckland. Mr. Irwin Faris, railway audit inspector for Otago and Southland, lias been transferred to Auckland to fill a similar position. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., is expected to arrive in Auckland next Thursday on business in connection with the affairs of the Auckland Tailoresses’ Union. Mr. Wilfred Findlay, well-known in ■representative cricket circles, and who played for Wellington in the recent test match in Auckland, is accompanying his father, the Hon. Dr. Findlay on his trip North. Inspector O'Donovan, who has been in charge of the Palmerston North police district for some months past, and who has recently been transferred South, was presented last week with an illuminated address on behalf of the Residents, and thanked for his services So the town.— (Press Association.) Mrs. Edwards, wife of Mr. Justice Edwards, left last week by the Ma'heno for Sydney, where she will join the North German Lloyd steamer Barbarossa en route for England. Mrs. Edwards, whose health has been very bad for some time, is visiting Europe with a view to taking the baths at Karlsbad. Mr. Francis Stevens, a very old resident of Wellington, died last week, aged 78. He was connected with the Commissariat Department in the Maori war, and afterwards with the Defence and Crown Lands Departments, He acted as secretary for the New Zealand Rifle Association at meetings for many years. The Hon. Dr. Findlay, Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, arrived by the Main Trunk train last week, . accompanied by Mrs. Findlay, and Mr. E. Poulton, his private secretary. During their brief stay in Auckland Dr. Findlay and his party stayed at the Grand Hotel. They subsequently went on to Whangarei, where the Minister delivered a speech. Mr. and Mrs. W. Fallon and party left Ngaruawahia on a motoring tour through the Waikato on Saturday. The death is announced by Press Association cable from London of Lady Suffield, a sister of Lord Revelstoke. Mr. F. G. Dunlop has received cable advice that he has passed the examination for the LL.M. degree with first-class honours. Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Batty, of Cambridge, left by the Wimmera on Monday for Sydney, where they will join the Orient steamer Orsova for London. Mr. Turnbull, jun., and Mrs. Turnbull, of Remuera, left by the Wimmera on Monday, having booked through Cook’s by the Orsova for England. The Rev. Ivo Bertram. Presbyterian minister at Devonport, was the recipientof a handsome present, in the shape of a cheque, from his congregation last week bn the ye of his departure for Edinburgh to pursue a -further course of study. Mr. and Mrs. Bertram left Auckland on Monday for the South, en route for Scotland. The death of Mr. William Meikle. one of the pioneers of the Mercury Bay district, took place at his residence in Whitianga on the Bth inst. The deceased gentleman arrived in the Dominion half-a-century ago, and had spent most of the interval in the Mercury Bay district, where he took a prominent part in the development of the mining, timber, and Hax industries. Of late years he had turned his attention largely to sheep and cattle farming, which he carried on at his estate of Dalmeny Park. Of an openhearted and sympathetic disposition, the Jate Mr. Meikle was one of the moat esteemed men in the district, his generosity and kindliness of nature having made his name a household word. He was a keen musician, and at the time of his death jvas president of the Mercury Bay Musical Society, and was also a prominent Mason. The funeral wqs ope of the biggest that has been held in the district, tfce floral tribute* being very numerous.

An old Auckland boy has just been honoured by the City of Brisbane in the person of Mr. H. J. Diddams, who has been elected to the Mayoral chan- of the city for 1911. Mr. Diddams was born at Auckland in 1864, and was educated at the Auckland Grammar School. It was intended that he should become an analytical chemist, but after a year’s cadetship in the Government laboratories he decided in favour of the printing trade, and accepted an engagement in the “Auckland Star” office. In 1883 he went across to Australia and joined the well-known Melbourne house of Messrs. McCarron, Bird, and Co., and with the exception of one interval, he remained with the firm till in the year 1893 he was appointed to establish and manage a branch of the business in Brisbane. Mr. Diddams now controls the business under the name of H. J. Diddams and Co. While in Brisbane Aiderman Diddams has l>een prominent in the public life of the city, having been an aiderman since 1897, while he has been president of the Chamber of Manufactures, president of the Master Printers’ Association, and representative of Queensland manufacturers at different inter state conferences. So far ha has not sought Parliamentary honours. Mrs. Diddams, the Mayoress, is a member of an old and well-known Victoria family, a daughter of Mr. Robert McColl Hick*.