Personal.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 84, 30 March 1914, Page 5

Personal.

Mrand Mrs J. Fitzgerald left by this morning's mail on a short holiday in Auckland.

Sir Hartmann Just, a distinguished official of the Colonial Office, has arrived at. Adelaide, by the Anchises, and proposes to visit New Zealand, states the cables.

Mr John Darling, aged 62, known as the wheat king of Australia, and brother of Mr Joe Darling, the wellknown cricketer, is dead, reports a Melbourne TJ.P.A. cablegram.

The death of D. J. Napier, a well-

known property-owner in Dunedin,

•who for years spent the winter out of New Zealand, is announced from Sydney.

Mr Henry Otterson, Clerk of the House of Representatives, intends retiring from that position at the end of June, by which time he will have completed nearly 42 years' service. Mr Otterson was appointed to the position in 1897, says the Press Association. • •

The engagement is announced of Mr Kermit Roosevelt, second son of Mr Theodore Roosevelt, ex-President of the United States, to Miss Belle Willard, United States Ambassador to Spain. . The wedding will probably take place in April in Madrid. Mr Kermit Roosevelt has something of the pluck and determination of his father, for as a boy of 13k he rescued a party of ladies from the danger of runaway horses.

Miss Massey, daughter of the Prime Minister, has heen presented with a very handsome gold bracelet to commemorate her birthday'and visit to Westport. The Prime Minister, in reply, thanked the donors for the exceedingly fine gift. He said he had no idea, when mentioning at the Murohisoh show that it was his daughter's birthday, that the outcome would have been a present to his daughter. Miss Massey was, added the Prime Minister, the age of his political career, having been born the year he was first returned to Parliament. He humorously added that she was a born politician.

King Victor Emmanuel is very , frugal in his habits, and once when hunting he had a laughable experience because of this trait. He shot a chamois, and a peasant boy offered to go and fetch it for him. "Airright," said the King. "But what will you pay me ?" asked the youngster, wno, ofvcqurse, did not recognise the King. ""What do.you want?" asked his Majesty, greatly amused. "Will you give me a franc and half your lunch?" The King agreed, and the lad went off. When ho came back the franc was tendered him, and then King Victor sat down to open his knapsack. He drew out a loaf of black bread and a large onion, and -proceeded to divide them. "Here, I don't want any of that," cried the youngster, "I thought you were a- gentleman, and there, you are only a beggar like myself."

Miss McCarty, head ".mistress of the Cardiff School, who is leaving the district after nine years' service, and who has accepted an appointment as head mistress of the Hillsborough School, was the recipient of three presentations on the 19th inst. Mr J. W.-Rogers (chairman of committee), apologised for the absence of Mr R. Masters, who was unable to be present (says our correspondent), and in his opening remarks eulogised the work done by Miss McCarty. The school, ho Baid, had greatly improved under her tuition, as shown by the Inspector's reports from time to time. The work in the school gardens had been well and faithfully carried out, and in all matters Miss McCarty had done credit to herself and the school. M\ss McCarty had always shown a great interest in social matters, and in this connection the chairman would like to include Mrs McCarty and Miss Lizzie McCarty, who had always contributed towards the success of all social functions. Miss McCarty had gained the love and affection of the children, and the esteem and goodwill of all the residents of the district, and all greatly regretted that she was leaving.—Mr W. Rogers, member of the Education Board for the district, expressed his pleasure at being invited to be present i on this occasion, and testified to Miss McCarty's good qualities and success as a teacher. He then presented to Miss McCarty a beautiful solid silver three-piece tea set, suitably inscribed, and to Miss Lizzie McCarty an ebonybacked mirror.—The chairman, in responding for Miss McCarty, thanked all for the splendid present she had received; she would always look back with pride to the time she had spent at Cardiff, and with gratitude for the many kindnesses extended to her and hers.—Miss McCarty was also the recipient of a dressing case from the Cardiff school children, and a set of silver tea-spoons from the children of the Waingongoro Road school, most of whom had until recently attended the Cardiff School.—Mr J. T. Belcher suitably responded for Miss Lizzie McCarty. After the presentations, supper was handed round, and the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept going until 2 a.m.