PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 344, 21 March 1910, Page 5

PERSONAL.

A Sydney cable states that Lady Dudley, who recently underwent an operation, is doing well. Sergeant Smart, of Hastings, receives three months' leave of absence from ,3lst March, at the expiration of which he will retire from the service. A London cable states that King Edward continues to remain indoors. A later message states that the King is progressing, satisfactorily, his temperature being normal. On Saturday evening Miss A. LGordge, who was severing her connection with the firm on the eve of -ier approaching marriage, was' ipresented by Messrs Bellringer Bros, with a silver cake-basket, and by the staff witH a set of carvers. Mr. D. L Lnxford. of the Agricultural Department, died at Napier on Friday, aged iorty-two years. The deceased, .who was a son of the late Mr. William Luxford, of Wellington, was for some time engaged in journalism in Wellington and Nelson. He then joined the Veterinary Department, under Mr. J. A. GilTuth, as correspondence clerk in the Government laboratory. On the reorganisation of the department Mr. Luxford was transferred to Napier as district agent. Private advice has been received in Wellington that Captain James Stott, formerly of the Union Company's service, was killed on the railway line at Geelong, Victoria, last Saturday week. The deceased was ail older brother o f Captain Edward Stott, assistant mar** superintendent at Wellington for the Union Company. The late Captain -I. Stott was well known throughout Saw Zealand, and for some time -was in command of the old Rotorua in the Nelson-Dunedin service. Several ago Captain Stott transferred to the Huddart-Parker Company's Vancouver Service. At the time of nis death he wa9 master of the steamer Fitzclar«nce, which was loading at Geelong for Europe. At eleven years of age Sir Jasnes Duckworth, the Liberal member for Stockport, was working twelve hours a day in a mill, and was almost the sole support of his' mother's household. At seventeen, after eleven years at iae loomj he ran away to sea, and enlisted in the Royal Marines. He soon had enough of the sea, bought himself out of the service, and went back to the mill. Married before he was twentyone. at twenty-four he found himself in ■broken health and with a "family /o keep. He bought a pound of tea and a pedlar's license, made up the former into 2oz packets, and sold them from door to door. From that modest feepinning his business grew till now he is one of the largest 'provision dealers in the North of England, having ilfty shops in the Rochdale neighbourhood alone.

Caiptain Guy R. X. Grant has ■ been appointed to the command of thfc cruiser Challenger on that ship recommissioning for further services in Australian waters. Captain Gaunt is on of three brothers who have served or are serving in the Royal Navy. He was appointed originally to the Roval Naval Reserve, and in 1895 was promoted lieutenant on t' " supplementary list, commander in I'.'Ol, and eapK'• in June. 1907. He is' well known on the Australian station, having served there for two commissions. In 1897 he was lieutenant of the Swift during the ' operations at Manila: as lieutenant of the Porpoise commanded at Apia during the night attack on Apia. 1599. raised and commanded the native corp? known as "Gaunt's Brigade" with itiTich ability. For his' services he was mentioned in despatches, and specially promoted to the rank of commander.