PERSONAL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 141, 5 June 1908, Page 2

PERSONAL

The Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education, passes through New Plymouth by this morning's express. A private telegram from Palmerston South states that Lady Mcivenzie, widow of Sir John McKenzic, passed away peacefully at midnight mi Wednesday. She was S3 years of age. Mr." David Sole, of Westown, celebrated his Stilh birthday yesterday. Notwithstanding his advanced years:, the old gentleman is still hale and hearty, and -keeps himself fully employed. At yesterday's meeting ol the Hospital Board several of the members made highly eulogistic references to the manner in which the secretary had transacted the business of the Board, and to the energy devoted to the collection of the maintenance fees, with such great success. He was liiianiinoii.ily granted a bonus of ;ClO for last year", and his salary raised by .1-20. A Masterton paper states that Mr. D. Kliott, Stock Inspector, has received notice of transfer to Hawera on rebeving duty, and leaves iu about -hree weeks' time. , The New Plymouth gymnasium Unli last night bade farewell to the Heldt and Mr. ilcldt, jun., at a social gathering. A very pleasant evening was spent in parlor games, interspersed with competitions and musical items contributed by members of the club. Miss K. Collis and Mr. J. Hcldt won the ilower-wedding competition. Songs were <nven bv Miss Howell and Mr. iu Lee ltute solos by Mr. Lee, pianoforte solos by Miss Heldt, club-swnigmg by Miss Legg. ami items ■»>' a SIUIIU 01 ~ C 'sister Frances Xavier, who for many years carried on a private school in Wellington, and later at Seatoun, lias, retired on account of ill-health, and proposes shortly to take a trip home to France. Her pupils, among whom are some of the best-known people in Wellington, on Saturday afternoon, presented "their old teacher witk a purse of sovereigns as a mark of their esteem. Baron Mounlstephen, whose name has figured prominently in the cable messa«cs of late in connection with generous gifts to the King's Hospital and Aberdeen Infirmary, has had one of the most romantic careers in the peerage. He was born at Dulftown, Scotland, in 1820, and began life as a herd-boy. Later on he became a draper's assistant in Aberdeen, and at the age of 21 emigrated to Canada, where he has since become famous in connection with the Canadian-Pacific railway. In recognition of his valuable services he was made a baronet in IHBU, and live years later was raised to the peerage. Although Lord Mountstephen has been twice married, he has no children. Many years ago, however, he adopted a little girl, who is now the wife of Lord Nortlicole, Governor-Genera I of Australia. Lord Mount Stephen, iu spite of his great success, has never forgotten anyone who has helped him along his career. When he was a shepherd boy, the minister of the district used to give him many words of eiicourngeineril, and endeavored to make his lonely work (J n the hillside as cheerful as he possibly could. Young tleorge Stephen, as he'then was, determined at the time that he would one day reward his kindness; and years afterwards, when lie had become ;l famous man, his thought reverted to the consoler of his boyhood da v. To sho w his gratitude to his old friend, he gave him a handsome annuity, besides endowing a lundot many thousand pounds to enable every parish minister on the .Sjieyside to have a minimum income of £IOO a year.