PERSONAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 18, 1 November 1911, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES.

Air J. C. Dromgool, the Liberal candidate for Raglan, whose portrait appears in our illustrated pages, is a native of the Lower Waikato, having been born at Tuakau, in 1877. After receiving his early education in the Tuakau District School, Mr Dromgool. won his way, by means of scholarships, first to the Auckland Grammar School, and, finally, to the University, where he graduated Master of Science in 1900, and also partially completed his course for the Bachelor of Laws degree. Taking up teaching for a time, Mr Dromgool held the position of master of the District High School at Paeroa, and also that of master in the Stratford District High School. In the Technical School at the latter place he instituted the scheme of dairy instruction. milk testing, etc., which has now become the outstanding feature of primary education in Taranaki. Resigning his position in 1906. Mr Dromgool spent a year travelling in Australia, South Africa, and Britain, in order to widen his professional experience and to study the conditions of life in other lands. Since his return to New Zealand in 1907, besides being engaged in educational

work in the Tauranga and Pukekohe districts. Mr Dromgool has interested himself in politics and has applied himself successfully to perfecting his status in the legal profession, in which he intends, at the conclusion of his present campaign, to commence practice as solicitor at Auckland and Ngaruawahia. Mr. E. G. Jellicoe left Wellington for Sydney on Friday evening by the Moana, en route for England. Professor Blaek, of Otago University, is retiring after 40 years’ service, and a publie meeting is being held at Dunedin to-night for the purpose of bidding him farewell. Mr. L. W. Bourke, wireless operator to the Post and Telegraph Department, left for the Chatham Islands on Friday to select a site for the wireless station which it is proposed to establish there. Mr, J. B. Hine was taken ill when returning home on Saturday by train) He is. now confined to his residence in Stratford, and compelled to cancel all meetings for this week.— (Press Association.) , . ... . .. A private cable received from Johannesburg on Saturday states that Mr. Donald Simson, an old Auckland boy, was on Friday elected a member of the Johannesburg Town Council by a large majority. Mr. Henry D. Baker, American vice-Consul-General, has completed his work of investigating commercial conditions in New Zealand, and is sailing in the Ulimaroa for ,- Tasmania, where he will spend the wijiter and then return to the United States for a visit. Air. W. E. -Taylor, F.R.C.0., organist at St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, died rather suddenly at mid-day on Saturday (says a Press . Association telegram). He had' been unwell for the last three weeks, but was thought to be convalescent, and was in the garden during the morning. The deceased was 44 years of age.

Messrs. Richard Keene and J. Reid, of Wellington, left Wellington for Tauranga on Monday, .These gentlemen, who have for the past three or four years interested themselves in Bay of Plenty lands, recently acquired another large block not far from Tauranga. One block, which they cut up into small dpiry farms some two years ago, has nearly all been disposed of, and a thriving township has sprung up in the centre, fed by the settlers in 'the vicinity. The “Sydney Suu” discredits the report that Powelka escaped from' New Zealand in one of the intercolonial trading vessels, and says' the Sydney police treat the story as a pure fabrication. Several shipmasters spoken to declared that the risk of any captain harbouring Powelka would be too great to be undertaken. There us a fine of £ 100 under the Customs regulations for introducing an undesirable into the Common wealth, quite beside other penalties which might be incurred for aiding an esea ped criminal. There would be little or no chance of anyone stowing away on the small vessels engaged in the timber trade, and as for any captain assisting Powelka to escape for a consideration, it is regarded as being very improbable. The agents for the various timber vessels trading between New Zealand and Sydney will not listen t<> the story.' Any master assisting Powelka, they say, wojild have to take practically the whole crew into his confidence, especially if the criminal landed on the coast, and that would be too big a risk.

Obituary—Mr. James Kirker. Universal regret will be expressed throughout New Zealand at the announcement of the death of Mr. James Kirker, general manager of the South British Insurance Company, which took place at Vancouver on Friday. The intelligence was communicated to the company in a cable message received on Saturday, which also stated that Mrs. Kirker will leave with the remains of her husband by the Zealandia on November 1.