PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 55, 29 October 1912, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr Henry Broun, of New Plymouth, is very ill, and his condition late last evening was very critical. Mr J. Ayres, one of Palmerston’s oldest residents, has died at the age of 71 years. Mr W. H. Simmonds, editor of the Ashburton Guardian, has been offered and lias accepted the editorship of the Hobart Mercury, says a press wire from Ashburton.

Dr. Wohlmann, Government balneologist at Rotorua, will visit Engope shortly, and has been granted twelve months’ leave of absence for that purpose.

The Hon. James Millar, who has returned to Wellington from Otago, intends to visit Taupo towards the end of November and put in some weeks at trout fishing.

Dr. VV. A. Chappie, M.P., for Stirlingshire in the House of Commons, and formerly of Wellington, is investing heavily in Vancouver property (says the Vancouver Daily Province), in aU he has purchased city sites to the value of £120,000.

William Gustavos Fischer, the composer of “I love to tell the story, “Whiter than the snow,” and more than 200 other hymns, has just died in Philadelphia. He took a prominent part in the Moody and Sankey revival meetings.

Colonel J. R. Purdy, Director of Medical Services for the New Zealand Army, was married at St. Matthew s Church, Auckland, on Monday, to Mrs Arthur Tighe, of Pymble, Sydney. The Rev. W. S. Gilhim officiated. Ihe only guests were Mr Bob Puruy and Dr.' and Mrs Parlces.

Probate of the will of Thomas Riches Hodder, late of New 1 Plymouth, deceased, was on the 2oth inst. granted by Mr Justice Edwards, on the motion of Mr Roy (Roy arid Nicaolson! to the executors named iu tit will. Mr. J. F. Watson, one of Stratford’s most popular business men, i> disposing of his well-known watchmaking and jewellery establishment the purchaser being Mr. J. Stone, oi Wellington, who comes from the famous New Zealand establishment of Littlejohn and Co. Final negotiations have yet to be made, but we understand the sale is practically assured. Mr. Watson has not yet decided up in his next move. Sir Gerald. Strickland, K.C.M.G., Governor of Western Australia, who succeeds Lord Chelmsford as Governor of New South Wales in March, was previous to ids appointment as Governor of Western Austra.ia in 1909, successively Governor of the Leeward Isles, 1902-4, and Tasmania 1904-9,. Lord Chelmsford has been Governor of New South Wales since 1909.

Mr. W. L. Lawrence, Avho for the past tAvo years has been on the Nelson staff of the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., has resigned from the firm to take up a j>osition_ in Mr. NeAvton King’s Stratford office. During the time Mr. LaAvrence has been in Nelson he has made a large number of friends, Avho Avill Avish him every success and prosperity in his new sphere. Mr. W. L. Lawrence is a son of Mr. LaAvrence, of Stratford. Mrs. Staples-BroAvne, better knoAvn in Ngav Zealand as Maggie Papakura, has quite settled doAvn to English country life at her home in Oxfordshire (Avrites a correspondent under date September 21)*, She has boon in London this A\ - eok and called at the High Commissioner’s office Avith her husband, Those of the Maori' troupe Avho remained in England gave a successful performance at Bristol last Aveok.

Monsignor McNeil, the now Catholic Archbishop of Toronto, has reached this eminence from the humble stepping-stone of the blacksmith’s forge. He is descended from the McNeil of Barra, the Highland clan Avhose battle-cry Avas “Victory or Death.” The clan claims descent from Neil Og, avlio fought at Bannockburn, and was granted lands by Robert Bruce. The last McNeil of Barra, Major-General McNeil, died in England in 1863. The neAV archbishop, on his mother’s side is Irish. Her nemo Avas in County Kilkenny. In his youth Monsignor McNeil Avorked at his father’s trade in his native toAvn in Nova Scotia. He studied so diligently, hoAvever, that he Avas brought to the notice of the parish priest, avlio helped him to college, and thus to the priesthood. He became in succession head of St. Francis College, Bishop of St. Gregory’s, and Archbishop of Vancouver, Avhile in NeAvfoundland he travelled hundreds of miles from mission to mission, on packhorse and on foot, in all kinds of Aveather. He is an astronomer and a profound mathematician.

Mr. Thomas Cole, an ex-Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand, is engaged in an interesting quest in England for a sister ho has never seen (says the ‘Overseas Daily Mail’ of September 14). Over seventy years ago there resided either at Thirsk, Yorkshire, or very near the town, a certain Mr. and Mrs. Colo. Owing to business not being of the best, they went in search of fortune to London, leaving behind them their eldest child—a girl—with her grandparents. In their new home a son was born, and it is he who is now in search of his sister. This son, Mr. Thomas Cole, a cabinetmaker, emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand, and established a lucrative business there. Last year Mr. Colo was Mayor of the town. This year he decided to visit England and search for his sister, who will bo about 73 years of age. Curiously enough, about three weeks previously a Miss Colo, a resident in the South of England, applied to Mr. W. D. Bateman, parish clerk of Thirsk, for the marriage certificate of James Cole and Elizabeth Horsman, who were married at Thirsk in October, 1807. Whether this enquiry has any connection with Mr. Cole’s quest remains to be seen. The wedding of Mr. C. Y T oung and Miss C. Rowe, both of New Plymouth, was celebrated in the Lepperton Church on Thursday afternoon. The Rev. Mr Wills tied the nuptial knot. The Waitara Mail reports that the bride, who. was given away by her uncle, Mr A. Rowe, looked charming m creme charmeuse trimmed with silk fringe. She also wore the usual veil and orange blossoms, and carried a shower bouquet of roses and maidenhair fern. Miss Hilda Spurdlo was chief bridesmaid, wearing a dress of pale grey silk poplin, and grey hat trimmed with oink roses. The other bridesmaid, Miss C. Rowe, cousin of the bride, wore a white silk dress and hat to match. They carried hououets of white flowers made by Mr A. Dimmer, of Waitara. The bridegroom’s gift to the bride was a gold muff chain, and to the bridesmaids gold brooches. The bride’s gift to the bridegroom was a set of silverbacked brushes. Mr N. Sampson acted as best man. The wedding breakfast was held at Mr IV. Rowe’s of Huirangi, and the happy couple left by motor car for their future home at Midhirst. The bride’s travelling dress was a navy blue tailor-made costume and a black bat. _ Mr and Airs Young received many hamhomo and useful presents.