PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 290, 2 May 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. Newton King returned yesterday morning from a short visit to Auckland. Mr. G. P. Wake, Mayor of Eltham, is at present on a visit to New Ply. mouth. During April, eighteen births, seven marriages and four deaths were re> corded in Stratford. The total number of persons in ths Stratford district accounted for by Chief Census Enumerator is 9483. Mr. Hugo Friedlander wag yesterday re-elected chairman of the Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

Mr. J. N. Grant, Grand Secretary of the North Island Lodge of Druids, arrived in New Plymouth by last night's express train.

Mr. R. Cock-, managing director of the Ridd Milking Machine Co., leaves by this morning's express for the Buller district on the company's business. The wholesale price of butter fronl a Taranaki dairy company to a Wellington firm went up by an eighth of a penny on Thursday, the price being now ll%d per lb in bulk. Mr. Wm. Armstrong, of Dunedin, who succeeds Mr. F. Simpson as Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki, arrived here on Friday night, and assumed control yesterday morning. A London cablegram says that Sir Rupert Clarke states that Oscar Asche and Lily Drayton will take the highly successful Easter nlay "Kismet" to Australia early/in 11)12. Hon. ,T. A. Millar, Minister of Railways, and acting-Minister of Finance, left Wellington for the south last night. On Thursday evening he will be entertained by his committee at Dunediiw —Press Association.

There was a record attendance on Saturday of children at the first practice for the Fire Brigade ball. Mrs. Dookrill, who has again consented to "run" the function, had several of the old com* mittee with her, and this year's ball will be as big an affair as ever, if not bigger.

The remains of the late Mr. .las. Sole were followed to their last resting place at the Te Ilenui cemetery yesterday afternoon by a very large cortege, including many relatives and a number of veterans, The ceremony at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. John Wilkinson.

Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., received a telegram from the Hon. R. Mackenzie, Minister for Public Works, intimating that he will visit Taranaki this week. The Minister will leave Wellington on the 3rd inst. for Waitara, and will later visit Stratford, Eltham and Opunake. The object of his visit is to acquire a personal knowledge of the requirements of the province. A Nelson telegram reports that at the first meeting of the Harbor Board Mr. J. McMalion, a country member, was elected chairman in place of Mr. John Graham, M.P.. who had been chairman since the board was instituted ten years ago. Mr. Graham also stood for, the post, explaining that he would leave himself in the hands of members, although he had intended to retire from the chairmanship.

On Saturday afternoon Mr. W. H. Skinner, chief draughtsman, accompanied by some of the officers of the Lands and Survey Department, visited the residence of Mr. Francis Simpson, who has just retired after exactly seven years' service as Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, and presented him, on behalf of all the officers of the Land and Survey Department who had served there during his term of office, with a memento of his sojourn among them. This took the form of a handsome E.P. entree dish, a silver and oak liqueur stand, and a Wedgwood biscuit barrel and hot water jug. The inscription on the entree dish and liqueur stand wan ns follows: "Presented to Francis Simpson, Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands for Taranaki, by fellow officers of 1004 to 1011, upon his retirement, 30/4/1911."