PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 291, 3 May 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

This morning Mr. G. Tisch will be installed Mayor of New Plymouth for the fourth year in succession.

At yesterday's meeting of the newlyelected llokitika llarbor Board, Mr. H. L. Michel was elected chairman.—Press Association.

Mr. Martin Hansen, an old inmate of the Old People's Home, aged about 70 years, died in the institution on Sun* day, and will be interred at Te Henifl cemetery to-day. Sir. J. A. McKenna was elected Mayor of Patea by 236 votes to 184 secured by his opponent, Mr. C. A. Lareombe. The latter, in congratulating the successful candidate, said there had been internal dissension in the past. Let them drop it and stand shoulder to shoulder and push their little town ahead. He believed in Patea. It had great possibilities. which he hoped would soon be realised.

Rev. J. R. Cassell and Mrs. Caaaell, of Hawera, propose to visit England shortly, and arrangements have now been completed. The Rev. F. G. Evans, of New Plymouth, will take up Mr. Cansell's duties from Ist June to about the middle of July, and the Rev. Mr. Fortune, at present in Dunedin, will he locum tenens for the remainder of the time during which Mr. Cassells will be absent, till about gome time in January next year.—Star. A Hawera telegram states that the Hon. T. Mackenzie was on Monday taken through the country districts. At Opunake Mr. Mackenzie had a deputation from the Opunake Railway League, pointing out the many advantages and the necessity of this railway, which, «« the district was closely settled, and produced so much dairy produce, must pay. The Minister replied encouragingly. Mr. Mackenzie also visited Parihaka and left for Wellington yesterday morning. Mr. H. Okey, M.P., and His Worship the Mayor, Mr. G. Tisch, have received a telegram from the Hon. R. Mackenzie to the effect that he will leave Wellington for New Plymouth this morning, spneding Thursday here, and afterwards going on to Waitara. Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumarunui, has also been advised that the Hon. Mackenzie will visit Waitara on Friday evening, returning to New Plymouth as soon afterwards as possible, with a view togoing on to Opunake, and from there to Stratford, Whangamomona, Eltham, ana Hawera.

Sir Charles Alphonse Pantaleon Pelletier, K.C.M.G., Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, is dead, announces an Ottawa cablegram. He had a most interesting career. He was called to the bar in 1800, and was for several vears major of the oth Battalion, or "Voltigeurs cil Quebec," which battalion he commanded during the Fenian raid in 1806. He was City Solicitor of Quebec for forty years; Speaker of the Senate of Canada for five years, and also Judge in the Superior Court of the province ot Quebec. He was created K.C.M.G. ire 1808 for long and important political career. He resigned the Judgeship to be appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec. He also held several important public positions,

The commander of Dr. Mawson's An* tarctic ship, says the Christchurch correspondent of the Wellington Times, is doubtless Captain John King Davis, who commanded Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship the Ximrod on the Homeward journey from Lyttelton after her return from the Antarctic in March, 1910. Captain Davis, who iff quite a young man, joined the Shaekleton Antarctic expedition as chief officer of the Nimrod, and made the two voyages to the Antarctic in that capacity. After her second return from the south to Lyttelton with. Sir Ernest Shaekleton and his shore party, Captain Davis was appointed to the command of the Nimrod. He took the vessel from Lyttelton to Sydney, and thence to England, via the Maequarie Islands and Monte Video. Captain Davis is a capable sailor and navigator, and an untiring worker.

Mr. William Benson, a Maori war veteran, died at Ormond, Poverty flay, last week. He was a member of the late Major Jackson's No. 1 Company, Forest Rangers, and served during the hostilities in the Waikato in the years 1863-4, among other places being engaged nt the taking of Orakau pa, under General Cameron, in 1804. In 1805, with men from No. 1 Company, F.R., and No. 2 Company, Forest Rangers, under Major Von Tempsky, lie served on the West Coast, being in action at Kakaramea and the Weraroa pa, nfterwards proceeding up the Wanganui river to Pipiriki to the relief of Major Brassey, who was besieged there, and thence volunteering with members ofboth companies of Forest Rangers, under the late Major C. Westrup, ,j,to the East Coast, where he was engaged at Pukeinaire (Waiapu) ami at Kawakawa, round the East Cape. Then he went to Poverty Bay, and was at the taking of the Waerenga-a-hika pa, a three or four days' engagement. Subsequently he took part in all the trouble* in the Poverty Bay district at the time of the massacre of Te Kooti's forces, and the fighting afterwards at Xgatapa, etc.