PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 36, 5 October 1912, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Yesterday His Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) opened the New Plymouth Mountain House, today he’ passes through Stratford by special train shortly after 3 o'clock, en route for Eltham, where lie lays tho foundation stone of the new dairy factory, now being erected by tho Eltham ‘Dairy Company. His Excellency will stay for an hour to two m Eltham and leave by special train. The condition of Mr Dillon, M.P., is not serious, states a London cable, Mr* Win.' Slaghter has been appointed Inspector ol Scaffolding for Dm Taranaki industrial district.

Owing to the serious illness of Mrs Hand-New to a, of Masterton, a daughter of Mrs. Orbell, of Stratford. Miss F. Orbell, left this morning for Master ton. : ! • ■ • . ■ ■..

Mr W. A. Aldred and Mrs Aldred,after a fortnight’s stay in Stratford, left for the south this morning. Mr Aldred is inspector for the Bank of New Zealand.

Rev. Mother Aloysins, foundress of convents at Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri,‘'and Inverell, New South Wales, died at St. Joseph’s Convent, Gunnedah, last week.

i The (.failing; health of ,c ’ u ’ Mm mam Steward, now in his seventy-second year, is causing some anxiety to ms friends. He is suffering from an o'dstanding throat trouble. It is a coincidence that three former students of the Auckland College occupy the positions of Collectors ol Customs —namely, Mr J. P. Ridings at Auckland, Mr T. M. Cullen at Dunedin, and Mr E. R. Brabazon at Wellington. The following have been appointed Immigration Officers for the different ports of New Zealand Wellington : Mr. E. R. Brabazon vice Mr. C. S. Nixon, deceased); Dunedin: Mr. T. M. Cullen vice Mr. E. R. Brabazon); Invercargill: Mr. W. J. Wratt (vice Mr. H. R. Spence); Nelson: Mr. W. Devenish (vice Mr. T. M. Cullen); Greymouth: Mr. W. Howarth (vice Mr. W. Devenish); Hokitika: Mr. I*. C. J. Fantham (vice Mr. 11. G. Ecclesfield).

Major-General R. S. S. _ BadenPowoil is. engaged to be married. Tim young lady is Miss Olive Soames. She is a tall, slim brunette, and the veteran soldier met her while be was travelling in the West Indies in January last before he went to Australia. She is very wealthy. The General’s marriage will make no difference to his connection with the Boy Scouts movement. He says, "I will never leave the Scouts.’ General Baden-Powell, who was familiarly known at school by the soubriquet of "Bathing-Towel,” is 55 years of ago. He has never been married before.

Mr Andrew M'Clelland, an American journalist, is at present on a two months’ visit to New Zealand, in the course of a trip round the world. He is studying the country from a political and sociological point of view, and obtained an interesting sidelight on the "strikeless” Dominion in a' few days recently spent at Waihi. Ho is a believer in the public ownership of public utilities ? and desirous of seeing how tho principle works rub in practice here (says the Post). He has nearly another month to spend here, and during that time will visit the South Island, returning via Wellington to Auckland, Whence be will sail for Australia about the end of the month. Mr M'Clelland is special correspondent for the Denver Post and News.

Mr. George Priest, Church Lane, Olay ton-1 e-Moors, Accrington, _ England, is the holder of a record of wliicn ho is justly proud—that of having saved 224. lives. The number is astounding at first sight, but it is borne out by names and dates. Mr. Priest s efforts on behalf of bis follows have led him to face death in many forms, and have considerably impaired his health. Men and women of all nationalities have reasori to thank him for their preservation, the 224 people whom ho has rescued including 94 British subjects, 12 Germans, 10 Frenchmen, 10 Russians, 8 Spaniards, 6 Portuguese, 35 Americans, 6 Japanese, 12 Dutchmen, 10 Swedes and Norwegians, 0 Belgians, 3 Turks, 3 Brazilians, 2 Mexicans, and 4 Jews. Mr. Priest lias been presented with 4b hold medals for life-saving. He has rescued old and young from drowning, fires, railroad disasters, electric shocks, snowdrifts, wild boasts, pit outrages, robberies and assassinations, etc., risking his own life recklessly. On three occasions be lias been rescued in an unconscious condition, and is a life sufferer from injuries bo lias received. Mr. Priest was born at Wolverhampton in 1858, and when eight years of age commenced woik in a coal mine.