PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 332, 7 March 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Count Bismarck, a grand nephew of •the late Prince Bismarck, is at present touring the Dominion. Mr. E. 11. Egglestone, secretary of the ■Woodville Bacon Company, is on a business visit to Taranaki. * Sergeant M. D. Stagpoole, well-known locally, who has been stationed at PalmNorth fo r the last live or six -•years, has hcen transferred to Oamaru. Mr. A. P. O'Learv and Miss Olive O'Learv arrived in New Plymouth on (Friday night from Europe. Miss O'Learv has been studying music in Germany for some few years past. There passed away at the Veterans' Home, Auckland, on Friday, at the a;;e of 74 years, William Wiggins, formerly of the Royal Artillery. Wiggins (says a Press Association message) was born at Louth, Ireland, and as a youth was employee? for two years on the estate of i Sir. 11. H. Kitchener( father of Lord Kitchener). TTe took part in twenty-six engagements in Tndia. being present at the storming of Delhi and the capture of the palace. The deceased had frequently carried Lord Kitchener about in his arms when the Field-Marshal was a child. As Lord Kitchener passed through the lines «t Auckland, the third ,man from the left was Veteran Francis •"William Purvis, late of the Royal Navy, who was presentT at the siege of Acre in -1840, and who is believed to be the only surviving representative of that historic (fight now resident south of the line, tie was (states a Press Association message) singled out by Lord Kitchener, •who spoke "kindly to him. "llow old ore v you ?" enquired Lord Kitchener. "Ninetvonc," replied Tlie veteran, "and still hflle .and hearty." "T congratulate you upon it," said the Field-Marshal, as he passed Jon. Other old-time soldiers whom Lord .Kitchener addressed were veterans ,White and Neilson, formerly of the Scotch Greys, who wore clasps for the charge of the ITeavv Bricrade at Bala-:-,1a va. The distinguished visitor also took ■a special interest "in Veteran Fox, formerly of the Royal Artillerv, who served /under Lorrl Kitchener in Egypt, receiving the Khedive Star, and subsequently tinde r Lorfl Roberts in Afghanistan; receiving the Afghanistan medaT with clasps. Veteran Fox also wore two other medals which had been awarded •him for meritorious service. "What is .the average «ge of the veterans?" Lord •Kitchener enquired of Cintain Archer. '• superintendent of the home, as he -reached the end of the line. "Seventyeight, sir," responded Captain Archer. /The Field-Marshal bavins "lanced at the ,landscape, tile gafoen. and_the frontage o't the liome. express<?cl his pleasure flt finding the veterans in such a comfortable home.