PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 201, 29 September 1909, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Tlie Rev. W. J. Watkins, a Methodist minister, died at Onehunga yesterday morning. Mr. Anthony Wilding, the well-known tennis player, left on Saturday for Australia to take part in the championship tournament at Perth. Mr. C. T. Mills, accountant, of New Plymouth, has been nominated to repre. sent the Taranaki district 011 the Coaucil of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. Admiral G. Wintlirop, who died at Dover in August a£ die age of eightyeight years, saw active service in tnc first New Zealand War, as lieutenant. He retired in 1882.

Mr. Norman Lindsay, the talented Australian black and white artist, leaves Sydney for London next month, and will probably not return to Australia for several years. A marriage will take place this year in England between Miss Dora Wilcox, formerly of Itiecarton, Christchurch, New Zealand, well known as a verse writer in the Sydney Bulletin and other Australian papers and Mr. Jean Paui Hamelius, Phil. Doc., of Liege University, Belgium. Dr. Robert Law, of the United Free C'hureli (Edinburgh), Dr. David Smitn, of the United Free Church (Blairgowrie), the Rev. John Dickie, of Tarland (Aberdeenshire) arc candidates for the vacant theological chair at Knox College (Dunedin). All arc eminent authors and acknowledged preachers of ability.

Mr. E. W. Porritt, solicitor, of Paerea, iina been appointed a stipendiary magistrate. He has for some years lived m a mining district, and his special knowledge thus obtained will be of use lo him in his new duties, for he will be stationed in one of the Sdiith Island mining districts as magistrate and goldfields warden.

An unusual event will take place in the Pukekohc district next mouth, when Mr. and Mrs. Robert liilkcy will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their wedding. Mr. and Mrs. llilkev were married in Cornwall on October 31. 1830, and came to New Zealand in .the ship Bombay in 18li5. They remained at Onehunga until 1880. when they removed to J'ukekohe, where they 'hnve since resided. The aged couple are both enjoying splendid health. Mr. Bilkcy, wlio is 00 years of age, is a very ear.iy riser, and he still lights the fire every morning. Mrs. Bilkcy, who is 0.1 yea's of age. is al.-o very active, and is still able to sew without the aid of ier glaßses.

Captain T. X. Clarkfion, for twent*'tluoe years past harbormaster at Timaru, died tlirri' on Monday morning. Captain (hirkson. who was over seventy vvars of age. was recently gi/uited six months' leave of absence owing to illhealth. Ho was born in London, and went to sen when a boy. At the age of twenty he secured his master's certi(ieate. In 18,1(1 he married Miss Brighton, of Lyttelton, 'by whom he had a family of seven sons and seven daughters. For many years Captain Clarkson was master of sailing vessels trading about New Zealand, and was altogether twenty-five years in the coastal service. He was always noted as an extremely reliable and capable nav> gator.

Dr. Alex. Groves Duff passed awav peacefully at Palmerston North on Saturday. He had had a most interests" career (savs the local Times). Dr. Duff was born in Calcutta on July lotii. 1834. He was one of the few who escaped the first massacre at Mceruton May lOlli, 1837. IF<i served through the whole of the Sepoy War, seeing the first shot fired at tile battle of the Ilindon. on May 30tli, 1857, and almost to Hiorl' °ii. 'I 10 Nc P»"l frontier, in May ISol). During the whole war Dr. Dull' was not p(f duty for a single day. He was with the'BOth Royal Rilles and the iota foot regiment. Hje served witv the force under Brigadier Wilson op its march towards Delhi and was liresent at the affair of Bliagput, on Jmnna, on June 20th, 1857, Dr. Dili' went through the whole of the siege operations against Delhi, from fno investment on June 20th to the stormiiis ol the city on September 14th and its imal capture on September 20th He was twice slightiy wounded and receiv(ii a medal and clasp. Dr. Duff leaves i" ~ '""1 f«»«r children—Air. \ M B. Duff (Nelson), .Mr. J. \ n T) n .v (Sydney), Mrs. W. 11. Beilwtd (JW " mg), and Miss M. Dull' (Palmerston).