PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 295, 22 January 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. E. A. Craig, of Auckland, was a passenger by the fiarawa to Onehunga last night. Before commencing the business of the last meeting of the Harbor Board, the chairman referred to the loss the Board had sustained through the death of the late Mr. Joe Ward. He proposed, and Mr. King vSeconded, "That the members of this Board desire to tender their deepest sympathy with t!i e widow aril family of the late Mr. Ward, who has been a member of the Board for a great many years, and to express their appreciation of th ( . careail way he attended to his duties while a memb«r, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the bereaved family."

The woman, Mrs. Holt, whose death was announced in yesterday's "New.?,"' had been only three'days in'the Dominion, having come over from Sydney with the intention of taking a housekeeper's position at Opunake. On the sea jouvney, as the result of distressing seasickness, she was taken ill, and upon arrival here was ordered to the hospifT.T: Later in the day, when her five children, the eldest of \vhom is tweae years of age. were informed of the hopelessness of their mother's case, and afterwards of her death, the scene was a most affecting one. We are given to understand that the gentleman who had engaged the unfortunate woman has for the present undertaken the charge of the family. Says the Auckland Observer:—"Captain F. de la C >ur Cornwall. R.N.R., who commands the s.s. Kaipara. which recently strucK in Rangitoto Channel. ; s a son of the late Captain Cornwall', a retired officer of the Imperial Army, who for many years, and up to th e tinie of his death, farmed a considerable "tract of land at Bell Block. Taranaki. This is not the first stroke of bad lucß that has befallen the Cornwall family. Another son was a member of the Torpedo Corps at Wellington, and was xery seriously injured in the memorable explosion that took place there some sixteen years ago. Captain Cornwall is a brother-in-law of Colonel R. H. Davies, C.8., Inspector-General of the New Zealand Forces, who married Miss Eileen Cornwall.

At the Harbor Board meeting yesterday the chairman extended a hearty welcome to Mr. E. Dockrill, who had been appointed to the Board in succession to the late Mr. Joe Ward. He said that Mr. Dockrill was following a good man. a man who was wrapped'tip heart and soul in the welfare of the port, Mr. Connett further expressed the opinion that Mr. Dockrill. by reason of his long experience in public affairs, and particularly as Mayor of New Plymouth and a member of the Borough Council for a number of years, should prove an acquisition to the Board. Mr. Dockrill, in acknowledging the welcome, said he would endeavor to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor in office, whose actions he Lad ever approved. His one great wish was to so carry out his duties as to ensure the progress of the port and to obtain the approbation of all concerned in its welfare. Captain Newton was yesterday appointed harbormaster at New Plymouth. Captain Newton is one of the older masters of the Union Steamship Company, having been in command <?in.?a 18SG, his first ship being the Oreti. then trading to New Plymouth. He was also in charge of the Mahinapua. trading to this port for about "five years. Always one of the company's must trusted officers, he was selected to bring thy steamer Navua out from Home. ' He it was, too. who was placed in charge of the new turbine steamer Maori upon tli-. initiation of the fast ferry service between Wellington and Lvttelton, and he demonstrated that she'could be run as a success. Amongst other vessch which he has commanded wen,' Ihe Atua. Manuka. Moana. Moura. Miowora (now Maitai) and Aparima. whilst, he has been relieving captain of most, of the vcsseTs in t'hV Red' Funnel flcl. His last command was the ill-fated Waikare, which ran upon an uncharted rock in Dusky Sound only a few weeks -.vn,. Captain Newton is well thought of "in shipping circles, and one of the old shipmasters trading to 'Xew Plvmoirh remarked the other day that he was almost nn ideal shipmaster, being a splendid disciplinarian, and at the same time popular amongst all wh > came in conflict with him. Enquiries amongst shipping folk show that there is the liveliest satisfaction at the appointment, the opinion being express., i that the Harbor Board has made n splendid choice.