PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 88, 21 April 1913, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Dr. .Steven is at present acting for Dr. Carbery, who is in camp at giMrs Evans, wife of Commander Evans, of the Terra Nova, died on board the Otranto from peritonitis. Mr A. Crooke, S.M., has been ap pointed chairman of the Licensing Committees for the districts of Taranaki and Taumarunui. President Wilson has decided to ap- , point Mr George Guthrie, Japanese Ambassador; Mr Charles Crane, Russian Ambassador; and Mr Frederick Penfield, Spanish Ambassador. Mr J. McAllister told a reporter this morning that although he is not again seeking municipal honours, lie will contest his seat on the Hospital Board.

Dr. Ethington Smith, the famous Cambridge oarsman, met a tragic death. A London cablegram states that ho contracted infection while operating on a patient who had a gangrened hmg.

Queen Alexandra sent £2 to William Mobbs, a farm labourer, and his wife, who live at Castleacre, .Norfolk. They are 91 years old, and have been married 67 years. Mobbs n s worked on the' same farm for the same fa indy for 73 years.

The Rev. J. W. and Mrs Griffin were farewelled by the members of the Capo. Egmont circuit at Opnnako last week and presented with a ■ portmanteau. Rev. Griffin has taken up his duties at Waitara, and is succeeded at Opunako by Rev. Mr Tinsley.

Tom Thumb, who is said to be the oldest midget in the world, and who has attained his 68th birthday, stands only 39in. high, and has a grey head of hair and long grey beard. Doctors marvel at so diminutive a person attaining so great an age. He is a grandfather.

Mr J. J. O’Grady, who lias for the last eleven years been in charge of the prison works at the New Plymouth Gaol, has been promoted to the position of gaoler at Picton, where ho will assume his duties on May 1. Mr O’Grady’s position here will be taken by Mr Gorvy, of Wellington.

The funeral of Mr E. W. Broad at Martin was largely attended yesterday. At the inquest on Saturday, tho jury returned a verdict that deceased died on April 17 from injums sustained whilst motor cycling, ny being struck by the New Plymouth express- on April 16, and that n iKe opinion of the jury;no blame was attachable to anyone. - They added a rider that in view of the increased motor;and general traffic, on the ; Wellington. road, it be a strong recommendation to tiro Department to take immediate steps to minimise the :lauger at crossings.

Sir Harry Johnston has been complaining that no adequate memorial of Livingstone has yet been erected in England. But when the centenary celebrations are over (says the ‘Westminster there will be no lack of memorials of a kind., A Inonze life-size statue of the missionary -explorer in’ the facade of the Liv'ngstone Memorial U.F. Church, Blantyre, is to be unveiled by Mrs Livingstone Wilson, a daughter of the great traveller. ;1 The statue has cost about £4OO. Steps are also being taken by the Congregational body to erect r. new church in Craig street, Elantyve to be called the “Centenary David Livingstone Church,” while at Hamilton St. James’ Congregational Church with which the parents of Livingstone were for a time associated, a murai, tablet will find a place. And this by no means completes the list.

Only a month ago, Miss Rosinr. Buckmann earned very favourable comment in these columns, says the “London Daily Telegraph” of February 27th, on the occasion of her first appearance in London as a ballad singer. The work she did in the course of a recital at Steinway Hal! last night showed her gifts in a different aspect, for she elected to be heard in the air, “Mi Chinamano Mi mi,” from “Le Boheme,” and in a group of lieder, , from Wolf and Strauss. If only Miss Buckmann would be content to avoid the sop rano’s besetting sin, and not force her high notes her singing would deserve unreserved commendation. When she keeps her intensely dramatic impulses well under control it is a real pleasure to listen to her for her diction is admirable, her phrasing smooth and intelligent, and, the quality of her voice—especially in its lower range —warm and appealing.

Viscount Knollys, Private Secretary to his Majesty, lias decided to retire, after forty-five years’ service as a member of the Royal Household, forty of which have been spent as Private Secretary to the late King and to King George. Lord Knollys became Private Secretary to King Pelward (then Prince of Wales) in I°7o, a position which ho held for over .30 years. Upon King Edward’s succession, lie continued to discharge the duties of the office, and has bon Joint Private Secretary with Lord Stamfordham to his present Majesty since 1910. It is announced that Sir Charles Oust will bo Assistant Private Secretary when Viscount Knollys retires. Sir Charles has long enjoyed his Majesty’s confidence and friendship. The King, during his early naval training, was more than once shipmate with Sir Charles. Since 1892 the latter has been Equerry to his Majesty. Sir Charles is unmarried. He is the son of Sir Leopold Cast and Charlotte, daughter of VicoI Admiral the Hon. Charles Brdgeman, I and ho is now in his forty-ninth year.