Personal.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 80, 25 July 1914, Page 5

Personal.

Mr C. H. Biss, district railway engineer at Ohristchurch, died early yesterday morning, unexpectedly.

The death is reported from London of-Mr'Harry Diver, the well-known actor.-

Sir James Mills has resigned his seat on the Board of the National Insurance Company, owing to his expected long absence from the colony, and Mr W. Downie Stewart has been ejected to fill'the vacancy.

Mr J. Brake last night tendered his resignation as a member of the executive committee of the A. and P. Association, as he is leaving the district. In moving that the resignation be accepted with regret the president (Mr E. Jackson) eulogised Mr Brake for his sterling work in the interests of the'Association, Messrs Dingle and Healy speaking in similar strain.

Mr Andrew Carnegie, at Lincoln

Guildhall; received the honorary freedom of the city in recognition of his gift of a handsome library building. Thia Mayor made the presentation, and Mr Carnegie, replying, said everything in this world was growing better and would continue to do so. When he looked back at his imaginings, and thought of them he believed he was the happiest man alive.

The Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union re-elect-ed all,its officers, as follows:—Domin-

ion president, Mr J. G. Wilson (Bulls); vice-preiderit, Mr G. W. 1 Leadley (Ashburton); advisory com- \ mitteo, Messrs E. Campbell (Wanganui), Thos. Moss (Eketahuna), H. 'A. Nevins (Tenui), and H. J. Richards (Levin) ; treasurer, Mr W. J. Birch (Marion); secretary, Mr E. C. Jack (Wellington).

; The death occurred yesterday morning of Mrs Birch, relict of the late Mr Gv Baynes Birch, of Wellington, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Benbow, at Vogeltown. The deceased iady, who was 70 years of age, has been residing with Mrs Benbow for two or three years, leaves a family of three daughters, Mrs Benbow (New Plymouth), Mrs Stempa (Masterton), f: and Mrs Birch-Johnston (New Plymouth), arid one son, Mr H. Birch (Christchurch). The funeral will talce place-'at Wellington.

Mrs Levi Sarteh,'of Tikorangi, died suddenly yesterday at New Plymouth at the age of 73. The late Mrs Sarten wag a very old resident of Taranaki (states the News). As a baby . efte i arrived in one of the pioneer ships, having been born on the voyage Tout. 1 M r s Sarten resided in TaSranafci all her life. Her husband, who was for many years interested in publio matters, pre-deceased her by several' years. She leaves a grown-up family of nine 1 sons and two daughters,and the whole family, ■with the exception of one daughter j is reisident in Taranaki.

* Queen Alexandra (says the Gentle* woman) h.as a wonderful collection of fails, one of the most interesting of wnicb is that lately given to her l)y the German Empress. Of exquisite lace, it once belonged to Marie Antoinette. Among thei Queen Mother's possessions are painted landscape and figure fans,these usually a la Watteau, carried out in soft lovely colors, and adorned with pearls, diamonds, corals, an! The clear golden tortoiseshell sticks are favorites with her Majesty, and she has some amber sticks,' mounted with jadej turquoise, pink topazes, and clouded ' crystals. Her beautiful collection the Queen keeps in electric-lighted glass cabinets in a room at Marlborough House.