PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 22 February 1913, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr and Mrs T. G. Grubb leave StratI ford by the mail train on Monday I morning, on a fortnight’s holiday at i Wellington and the South Island.

■ Granny Chaplin, the oldest woman in England, died in one of the Birmingham workhouses. She had reached the great age of 111 years.

Rear-admiral Peary, who four years ago discovered the North Pole, has undergone an operation at Washington. The complaint from which he is suffering has, however, not been made known.

Captain Wallin, at present in charge of the Wimmera, and the commodore of the Huddart, Parker Co., has been appointed harbour master at New Plymouth, where he was a resident many years ago. There were thirty applicants for the position.

The sudden death of Mrs Frank Foot© is announced by private advice in New Plymouth (says the News). The deceased lady, who was predeceased by her husband a number of years ago, at one time lived in New Plymouth, and of late years resided at Nelson, Petone, and Feilding. She is survived by her two daughters—Mrs A. Keir, of Bulls, and Mrs Myra Foote, of Feilding.

Mr J. Thomson has resigned his position as treasurer of the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Farmers Union, owing to his decision to make a trip to the Old Country. At the last meeting of the executive the resignation was accepted with regret, and members expressed by resolution their best wishes for an enjoyable holiday. Mr A. Hunter has been elected to succeed Mr Thomson.

A marriage was being celebrated in a house at Tralee, Ireland, when the guests were shocked by the news that a baby had died in an adjoining room. The traces of festivity were quickly removed, and the party resolved itself into a wake. The extraordinary sequence of events did not end here (says a Sydney Sun cable), for while the wake was in progress and the dolorous moaning of the women was filling the house, a relative of the bride gave birth to a child.

The Prime Minister, interviewed yesterday, said that he had received no further information from London regarding loan matters. The loan had been raised, but the Hon. James Allen had still important work to do in England. It was also possible he would visit Germany in connection with education matters, to acquaint himself with the most scientific and modern developments. Mr Massey did not expect that Mr Allen would return before May.—Press Association.

The daughters of King Ferdinand, of Bulgaria, have appealed to the children of Spain to help the orphans of those who have been killed in the war. They ask for “alms in the cause of the Cross,” and add: “Jesus will accept your donations as though they were made to Him, and will give you His benediction.” A section of the Spanish press laments the fact that Christ’s name should be mixed up with butchery, and urge that the Turkish orphans have equal claims on Spain’s charity.

Gunner Samuel Parsons has been 68 years a soldier, and for the last 53 has been the Royal Gunner at Windsor Castle. He is nearly 87 years of age, and is probably the- oldest soldier serving in the British Army who has drawn full pay for 67 years. He recently celebrated his fifty-third year at the Castle. Gunner Parsons was born at East Looe, Cornwall, in 1825, and at the age of 19 years and three months he enlisted in the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Devonport, and served with his battery in the Crimea. After the Crimea Parsons went to Woolwich, and was appointed Royal Gunner at Windsor Castle in 1859. ;He holds six medals,including bars for fnkermann and Balaclava.

Sir Joseph Ward maintains that he has undertaken Ids present visit to England entirely for the sake of a holiday, and that it possesses no political significance of any kind (writes the Post’s London correspondent). He has many friends in England who have pressed him on former occasions to return for a holiday when he retired from the Premiership; and after so many years of strenuous public life he feels himself entitled to a holiday; “and,” ho adds, “there is no place 1 would prefer to spend it in than the British Islands.” As soon as the winter is well over the party will make a motor tour through England, Ireland, and Scotland, and they will also spend some of their time in visiting Continental countries.

Councillor N. J. King has definitely decided not to contest tho local municipal election in April next, giving as his reason that a little new blood infused into tho Council should do no harm. Cr. King has tor very many years given his services to tho ratepayers, and has played an important part in tho Council’s affairs, first as Councillor, then as Mayor, and lately as chairman of the Works Committee. In giving his decision Cr King told a reporter this morning that it was only under pressure that lie accepted nomination at tho last election, for he felt that he had done his share of public service and realised that his position on the Council often seriously interfered with his private business. Asked if persuasion might not again lead him to re-consider his decision, Mr King's reply was of a non-committal nature. “We’ll see,” ho said.