PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 266, 20 March 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The condition of Mrs. 3. R. Hill at the hospital last night was just about the same. If anything, there was a slight improvement. An Adelaide cable reports the death of Sir Richard Batter, the first president of the Federal Senate. It is probable that the Acting-Premier will be in New Plymouth to-day. If so, a deputation will wait upon him in regard to some local matters. Mr. Henry Burling, of Waikanae, who will be 110 years of age on May 1 next, had a fainting fit on Thursday, and was. unable to be present at the wedding of his grandson. A statue of Florence Nightingale is being erected in London, and another memorial consists of aH annuity fund for the relief of distressed trained nurses. For some time past Mr. Newton, King's health has not been of the best, and on one of two occasions he has had to absent himself from business.on thia account. On Friday his medical adviser insisted that he should lay up. The Bishop of London states that he had practically decided to offer himself for missionary service in Canada, as an example to the Church, but, only after three months' prayer, came to the conclusion that his work in London had a prior claim upon him. , A London cablegram announces thu death of (the Right Rev. Dr. E. C. Stuart, Bishop of Waiapu from 1877 to 1893. Dr.i Stuart was born in 1827, at Edinburgh, was ordained in 1850, and was stationed in India from 1851 to 1874. Aft<\r leaving New Zealand ho went to Persia as a missionary. • A marriage ha* been arranged to take place in London shortly (says the Auckland Herald) between Staff-Surgeon Wood, 8.A., M.D., of H.M.S. Cambrian, Australian station, and Miss Rubi Jessie Seddon, youngest daughter of the late Hon. R. J. Seddom Miss Seddon is now on her way to the Old Country. Mr. James Taylor, an old resident of Auckland, dicJ on Wednesday at the age of 95 years. The deceased gentleman was an engraver, and earned on business in Queen Street for many years. He was highly respected for hi* sterling qualities as a good citizen. He was in business in London prior to coming to New Zealand. A Gisborne messages states that the Hon. R. Mackenzie, Minister of arrived at Gisborne on' Saturday night after an overland' trip inspecting the proposed route of tire East Coast railway. He leaves this morning for Waipiro, and expects to return to Gisborne on Wednesday night. While there the Minister will probably be entertained by the Chamber of Commerce, and will probably meet a deputation of members of the railway league. The death of an old police officer, Mr. John Briggs, who for some years past had been living in retirement at Christchurch, is reported. Mr. Briggs joined the police force in October, 1875, and was stationed in. Christchurch for a number of years, attaining 1 the rank of sergeant and the charge of the Sydenham station. From Christchurch he was transferred to the charge of the Mount • Cook Station, Wellington, where he remained till. his retirement. Captain Bone, marine superintendent of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd., was in New Plymouth on Friday. He paid a visit to- the harbor, and showed keen interest in the work of the dredge, the harbor-surveying operations, the extension of the wharf, and other matters connected with the progress of the harbor. Captain Bone, it will be remembered, reported on the wharf ctxension proposals of the board a year or two ago, and strongly advocated the short wharves as against the long wharf scheme. The death is announced of Baron Airedale, of Gledhow (created 190"). He was seventy-six years of age, and was born at Leeds, his father being Mr. James Kitson, a well-known engineer. Educated at Wakefield Proprietary College and University College, London, the younger Kitson became a leading iron and steel manufacturer, ne was president of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1889-90. He was for six years president of the National Liberal Federation, and Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1890-97. He was made a baronet in 1886, and was elected M.P. for Coine Valley, York- v shire, in 1892, retaining his seat till bis elevaton to the peerage in 1907. He wa* largely interested in Midland banking and railway concerns. His heir is the Hon. Albert Ernest Kitson, born in lSifi.