PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 305, 3 February 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. T.. Scott Smith, Magistrate at. Blenheim, has received notice of transfer to Auckland, where he will succeed Mr. 11. Y\. Xortheroft.—Press wire.

At a meeting of Auckland citizens yesterday, slates a Press wire, it was decided to give a citizens' welcome and. present an address to Mr. 11. Brett on his return from England.

Mr. F. Hubert Chamberlain, formerly engineer tor the Christchureh Tramway Board, has been appointed managing engineer for the West port-Stock ton Coal Company. He is at present occupying an important position in New York and will be leaving Vancouver for Xew Zealand on February 25tli.—Press wir?.

The Dunedin Daily Times understands that in the event of Dr. Bell, Director of the Government Geological Survey Department, not accompanying Couiniandcr Scott on the expedition to the South Pole, MY. J. Allan Thomson (first Rhodes scholar from .New Zealand) is likely to bp offered the position of geologist from Xew Zealand with the expedition. Mr. Thomson is at present assistant to Dr. McLaren in working out the formation of the gold-bearing country of five of the principal mines in Kalgoorlie on petrological lines.—Press wire.

Mr. G. 11. Broome, of Westport, who ■has just been appointed manager (at a salary of iIOOO a year) of the coal mines which the Victorian Government is opening up at Powlett River, was at one rime connected with the Westport Coal Company. He then went to Canada, and on returning to Xew Zealand he"was appointed manager of the West-port-Stoekton mine. Before he left for Canada lie was a member of the B«ard of Examiners under the Xew Zealand' Coal Mines. There were forty-seven applications for the position he has secured.

The London Times, in announcing the honor upon Sir Robert KyffinThomas, referred to his services as president ol the Geographical Society of South Australia, on the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of the committee for raising troops for the Boer war. The Standard noted the compliment paid to the press. The Daily Mail said it was a tribute to his effort? towards strengthening Imperial relations, and added that his success as an organiser was shown at the Press Conference. The Telegraph had similar references.—Cable.

Among the distinguished visitors to New Zealand at the present time is Brigadier-General Edward Aickin Wni. Stewart, C.8., Officer Commanding the Bth Brigade of the 111 th Division, Devonport, and late of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). General Stewart, who was born in 1852, served throughout the Transvaal campaign in 1881, was all through the Egyptian expedition of 1882, and was present at the battles of Kassassin and Tel el Kebir, in which campaign he gained the bronze star and the brevet of Major. He was again in" Egypt with the expedition of ISS4-5. and commanded the Queen's Own Regiment in the Boer War of 1890-1961, being mentioned in despatches twice, and gaining the medal with four clasps. In company with Mr. L. Maitland Kirwin, General Stewart is trout-fishing at Lake Tokaanu.

Mr. J. Norton, the old Maori war veteran, who died at Moutoa on January 19 at the age of 81 years, came oat from England in the early days in a company of the Oath Regiment, which was guarding a gang of convicts being to Norfolk Island. He saw active service against the Maoris around Porirua, Pahatuanui and also at Wanganri. He came to the Manawatu district in ■the early fifties and engaged in many occupations, such as canoeing stores up the Manawatu river right through the Gorge. Many good stories he related of the adventures on the journey up-rivir. He acted as bodyguard for the late Dr. Feat hers tone, when he visited the Manawatu, and is said to have canoed up the river and selected the site where now stands the thriving town of Palmerston. Mr. Norton used to relate how the doctor and himself climbed trees to get a yiew of the country, and nothing met their gaze but bush, manuka and mobs of wild pig 6.

New Zealand is to liave two distinguished visitors shortly, the Earl of Orford and Sir Reginald lßx?auchar»p having Jeft London by the P. and 0. steamer Ala Iw a on December 31st. Thoy come stra iorlit through to Auckland. Si» Reginald William Proctor Beauchamp if noted both as a soldier and .a traveller. He was present at {lie fighting in the Shipka Pass with the Turks, and lias travelled widely in China, Japan, India •and Burmah'. He married in 1880 Lady Violet Jocelyn, daughter of the fiftll Eari of Itoden. He will probably stay in New Zealand until April, and intends to do n little fishing. Lord Orford is flic fifth Earl, and is a Walpole, tKe:efore it goes without saying that his ancestors were very distinguished, one was a noted Alinister under George 1., and the fourth Earl was an AI.P., but was more famous as a man of letters'. The present holder of the title is the son of the late Hon. Fred Walpole, ALP., R.N. Lord Orford held the position of private secretary to the Commissions to Roumelia in 1878, to the same in Egypt in ISSfi. and was attached to the Earl of Rosslvn mission for the marriage of King Alfonso XII., of Spain.

| Many early settlors will regret to learn of the death of Mr. Hay Robert Stanners, who for a period of tvrsniiyfour years occupied the position of Government overseer in the Waste Lands Department, and inspector of lands sold under the deferred payment system (says the TTawern Star). The deceased lived at X<raire for over twenty years 1 , until Jnlv. Iflfll. when he left for England with his wife and family. About four m«nths atro lie left England for Canada, with the intention of settling there. On the voyage to Canada the steamer in whieh he sail struck an uncharted rock. hut managed to reacK port in a sinking condition. On arrival in Canada Mr. and Mrs. Stanners and their daughter took the train for Saska, where they intended settling. Early on the innrnev the train was delayed, and in at)fniptiii7 to make un lo»t time left the rails and ran into ■* cutting. .About twentv T>'i--=en?ers were 'tiiured, including 'Mr. Stanners, whose injuries wore regarded n= somewhat serious from the outset. Tn addition to other ininries. several pieces of broken srTi'ss enured his face and hod v. Th- of the glass was not taken out hv th« doetors. and after linfferin" a coil" 1 " of months Mr. Stannens died at Ssska On January 25th. Mrs. Stanners and her daughter escaped from the accident without injury. The deceased wns A brother to Messrs TT., T. C., and W. \V. Stanners, of Eltham.