PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81891, 20 November 1906, Page 2

PERSONAL.

_ Madame Dolores, who proceeds to rSapiet this morning, w'Ll break the journey at Palmerston this afternoon to meet Mi-s Gracti Palotta, and this evening will be the guest of Messrs \Villoughby and Ward to witness tlie performance of "The Man from Mcxrco.

Mr Fair, manager of the Taranaki I etrolcum Co., was very seriously ill on Monday. During- the morning au operation was performed, and at a very iute hour last night he was reported by his medical adviser to be piogressing- as Satisfactorily as could oe expected under the circumstances. A Pi ess Association telegram from Duncdin s.aies tliat the Hon. J. A. Millar has decided to make nis permanent hornet in Wellington so as to have his fami'y with him and to enable him to go fully into the Tariff question in order to piepare reforms which it is anticipated will be introduced next session. He nas no injection, however, of severing his poutical tics wiili Duuedin.

Amongst the visitors at the White Han Hotel at present are ihe following Alessis Benjamin (Hawera), Martin, Van Staveren (Wellington), Wight (Wellington), Way i Sydney), i>catt (V\ eliington), Montgomery (I almerston North), Forby (Wellington), l'almer (Wellington), Crea-e (Uanganui), Williams ;\Vanganui), Rottcnbury (Hawera), Mrs iulgour (Auckland), Mr lleslop (Noimanby), Niciiolls (Inglewood), Solmand (Wellington), Mr and Mrs and Miss Bayly (Hawera), Mr McChtggage (Whanganiomona), Cowan (Wellington), lleald (Auckland).

Mr W. Cokey, who died at his residence, Gilbert-street, on Monday afternoon, was a resident of 16 years' standing in New Plymouth. 11 q ' was born in Camdentown, Middlesex, tu 1851, and came to tne colony 27 Jcmis ago. I-or 11 years lie was in Wanganui, where he joined the firm of Collier and Co. as a partner. Hcj then came to New Plymouth, where he started on his ow r n account, afterwards re-entering the firm of Collier and Co. here. The lalo Mr Coker had been in indifferent health for some 16 years pasl, and six weeks ago was seized with a severe illness, which A tded in his death. He leaves a wulow and three sons. Ihe fiiends of Colonel Collins—and they ai<2 many throughout the eolony—will be pleased to hear of the promotion that has just come his way, and that all will admit has been earned by sterling ability and zeal in the discharge of the responsible duties that have evolved upon him during recent years. Owing to the retirement ot Mr J. Gavin Irom the post of Assistant Controller ami Auditor-Gener-al, and the subsequent advancement to thai position of Mr James 15. llevwood, Colonel Collins has attained to 'lie highly responsible post of Secretary to the lrcasury and ReceiverGeneral of Revenue for the colony. Colone: Collins is a son of Captain Robert Collins, formerly of H.M.57111 Regiment, who served with distinction m the Crimea, India and New Zealand. ,Mr Collins was born in Cavan, Ireland, and came to the colony with tlis parents in IS6I. At tho age of fifteen he entered the Government service as clerk in the militia and volunteer service at New Plymuuth. He was employed as paymaster's clerk and substorekceper to the Public Works Department up to 1577, and then was transferred to the Stores Audit Department at Wellington. In the following year he entered the service of the Treasury Department, lfis rise since then has been rapid. In 1871) he became first clerk in the l'ay-master-Generai i. Branch; in ho was promoted to the charge of the Pay and Revenue Branches; and in 1890 secured the important ollice of Accountant 10 the Treasury. In 1903 he was appointed Assistant-Secretary m addition to hit; position as Accountant. Mr Collins has been in the service for about forty years, and is recognised on all sides as one of us, most efficient officers. In addition -0 his purely official duties Mr Collins has been the life and soul of voluntering in Wellington. He has taken u keen and active interest in rilleshooting, the present riile range at 1 retuham, with its splendid appointments, being largely due to ins active efforts. In 1904 he went Home 111 charge of the Bisley team that won the much coveted Kolapore cup. During that visit he travelled through Ireland, visaing the scenes of his early boyhood. |