PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 68, 11 July 1914, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr James Matthews, of Normanby, died at New Plymouth yesterday, at the age of 78 years.

Mr F. Pirani, who has served for 21 years on the Wanganui Education Board, has been re-elected unopposed.

Philip Snowden, M.P., and his wife have sailed for Canada (states a Lon-

don cablegram). They will visit Now Zealand to address temperance meetings, and study social and economical questions.

The Rev. Sedgwick- W. Bidwell, the oldest Methodist minister in the world,

living in Vermont, U.S.A., recently celebrated the 104th anniversary of his- birth. At the age of 102 he occupied the pulpit of the church near his home.

Mrs Agnes Thomson ,the first woman to inhale chloroform, and niece of Sir James Simpson, who discovered the drug, died recently in London, aged 83. Mrs Thomson was considered to be a happy subject for chloroform experiments. In every case when she was under its influence she would exclaim, "I am an angel, a beautiful angel! How are you all down there?" Chloroform parties were held at that time, and Mrs Thomson was often put under the anaesthetic to show the pleasing effects on the patient.

Mr J. W. Boon, who has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School since the church union, about a year ago, and who previous to that date was superintendent of the Wesleyan Sunday School for a good many years, has decided to retire from the position, and last night a gathering was held in the schoolroom in Regan Street to formally mark his retirement. On behalf of the officers, teachers and children of the school, the Rev. Reader presented to Mr Boon a large group photograph of those connected with the school. Tbe girls of the school also presented Mr Boon with a hymn-book and a copy of Emerson's poems. Mr Boon suitably responded, and the young people tben spent the rest of the evening in games, etc. During the evening a number of pupils of the school rendered a short musical programme.