PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 147, 19 July 1909, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Sirs. W. Gaukrodgcr, of Elthani, and Miss Winnie Sole, daughter of Mr. T. Gore Sole, of New Plymouth, have booked passages on the Atlienic, which leaves Wellington early next month for England. They expect to .be away from the Dominion for twelve months.

Mr. Charles Butler, "father" of the Tasninnian Bar, died last week, aged 5!) years. Jle arrived in Hobart ill 1835, ami was head of the firm o{ Butler. Mclntyre, and Butler. His grandson is associate to Mr. Justice A'Beckett. In 185S he was partner with R. W. Nutt, founder of the linn of Blake and Riggall, Melbourne. Word has been received by the Salvation Army that Commissioner Hays, who lias been appointed to the command of the Salvation Army in Australia and Mew Zealand in succession to Commissioner McKee, would arrive in Australia during the second week in September. | The new commissioner will receive an ollicial welcome from the Melbourne Salvationists on his arrival, and he will then proceed to Sydney, where*he will commence a tour of inspection of Salvation Army work in all the Australian capitals, preparatory to entering upon l.is administrative duties.

Members of the Central Cluib, Wellington, of which the Hon. Jas. Carroll is an old member, entertained him at a social on Friday evening and presented him with a pair of binoculars in commemoration of his appointment to the post of Acting-Premier. The hon. gentleman, in the course of his reply, expressed the belief that lie was the first man sprung from the original holders of the soil who, in any part in the British I dominions, had attained to such an honI or, and went on to plpad forcibly for a chance to the Maoris to show what they could do in working out a common destiny side by side with the Europeans.

Mr. Thomas Michelmore Darton died at Tuapeka in his eighty-fifth year. At the age of nineteen he joined the British navy, and was (says the Tuapeka Times) one oi the crew of H.M.S. Albatro'sfc when she went on a five years' scientific expedition, in the course of which she visited most of the British possessions in the East. Retiring from the navy, he sailed with his wife in 1852 for Australia, and started .business in Melbourne as a merchant. In 1838 he landed at Lyttclton and embarked in the brickinaking business, and on the outbreak of the rush at Gabriel's Gully opened a store at Lawrence. Mr. Darton did much to promote education and land settlement, in recognition of which I'C was the recipient of a testimonial | from residents of the district, 1 At the monthly meeting of the Otago Early Settlers' Association on Monday, record was made of the death of one of the few now remaining who were the pioneers' in 1848-40. Mrs. McLaren, of Kinmore, was the daughter of Corporal 'fames McGregor, a Waterloo veteran. She was born in Strathspey in 182(5, and shortly after her marriage to Mr. Peter McLaren sailed from London in the ship Mariner, arriving at Dunedin in June, 1840. The young couple experienced many trials in the new land, but with youth and health, industry, perseverance, and carefulness, all difficulties 1 were overcome; land was secured, and the foundation laid of a comfortable j home for themselves and their increasing family. In 18811 Mr. McLaren's* health failed, and after his death Mrs. McUren carried on the work of the larm, with the assistance of the family. Seven sons and three daughters survive her, whilst those of the third generation number twenty.