PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 220, 18 January 1911, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr. Lloyd-George has cancelled his engagements, owing to an attack of laryngitis. Lieutenant-Colonel Malone and Major Bellringer leave for .Wellington by this morning's express. Miss Cottier has returned to New Plymouth from a visit to America, after a very pleasant trip. The Rev. H. A. Favell, late viear of Stratford, 'has accepted the curacy of St. Matthew's, Hastings.—Post.

Miss Carrie Nation, the "saloon smasher," is reported by an Ottawa cablegram to be seriously ill. Mr. D. Cuddle, chief dairy commissioner, paid a visit to the dairy factories between here and' Opunake yesterday. Mr. A. Salter, for some time a member of tne Eltham Brass Band, was last week appointed conductor of the Hamilton Band.

At the annual meeting of the Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers Dr. Mackintosh Bell, of New Zealand, was elected president.

It is announced that Inspector O'Brien wil retire from the police force at the i of three months, receiving, thnee months' leave on full pay. A Melbourne cablegram states that Hathorn the South African cricketer, is ill. He has relinquished the balance of the tour, and is returning home. A London cable message savs that Lady Ourzon-Howe laid foe first keel plate of the battleship King Georae V and Lady Fawkes of the CeSturion!

The e cction of Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald to the chairmanship of the Labor Party in the House of Commons is regarded as certain, says a London cable message.

Mr. Clarke, Government Geologist returned to New Plymouth from Mokau on Monday night. The geological survey 0 f Taranaki will probably be completed this week.

His Holiness the Pope, who has been suffering from a violent attack of gout, is better, but audiences are suspended by his physicians' orders, says ft Press Association cable.

Miss Harriet Starkish, headmistress of the Normal School at Obristchurch, died on Monday. She ihad .been over twenty years in the service of the North Canterbury Education Board. An Adelaide message reports that, owing to public and private business, Mr. Verran, the Premier of South Australia, will be unable to attend the Coronation, and the Agent-General will represent the State.

Mr. Campbell Jackson, sen., father of Messrs. Edward and Campbell Jackson, of Stratford, died at Te Aroha on Sunday last, at the advanced age of 74 years.

Miss Mary C. Terry, daughter of Mr. J. Terry, clerk of the court, New Plymouth, was the only Taranaki girl to be successful in the University examinations, the results of which were announced yesterday.

According to a London cablegram, General Botha will arrive in London at the end of March, and from there will proceed to the baths at Kissingen, Germany, prior to the sitting of the Imperial Conference. The Primate of New Zealand (Dr. Nevill) has received an invitation to attend the Coronation celebrations, but in view of the vacant bishopric in the Auckland diocese, and the vacancy at Wellington, it is doubtful whether he will bo able to leave. New Zealand. The Waimate Witness understands that a partnership has been formed between Mr. B. McCarthy, solicitor, Hawera, and Mr. R. D. 'Welsh, of the legal firm of Welsh and Ryan. The new firm have also taken over the legal business of Mr. H. Oaplen, Hawera. Mr. Basil Thomson, the chief of the Prisons Department of the Home Office, who has been giving evidence before the Divorce Commission in England, has had a far more romantic career' than the average civil servant. He was once a Premier of Tonga, and among his numerous books there is one entitled "TV Diversions of a Prime Minister." Sor of an Archbishop of York, he enteriu the service of the Colonial Ollice ar was sent out to Fiji, where he filled various offices. When Sir John Thurston, the Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner, felt himself compelled to depose the Rev. Shirley Baker, an Auckland Methodist minister who had made himseli Dictator and Prime Minister of the Tongan group, Mr. Thomson, at the age of twenty-nine, was installed in the vacant 'Premiership. Woolwich gave way to frenzied delight when the news was made knov that Mr. Will Crooks was in (writes

London correspondent of the Wellington Times). Surrounded by a wildly cheering bodyguard, Mr, Crooks made his way to Bedford square, the short distance occupying half an hour, owing to the tremendous crush. 'When Mr. Crooks conM make himself heard, he said that the result proved that Woolwich would haV« nothing to do with the Lords. Excited crowds surrounded the committee rooms, necessitating the services of a body of police, and men, women and children paraded the streets, ringing bells, blowing horns, and singing "He's a Jolly Good Fellow." The excitement wa» greater than in 11)03, when Mr. Crooks gained his first famous victory. In Fleet street, too, where an enormous crowd had gntnered, it is doubtful whether the scene of enthusiasm which followed the victory of Will Crooks has ever been excelled.