PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 315, 31 May 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. C. Carter, member of the Taranaki County Council for the Hurworth riding, has resigned his seat. Major-General Godley arrived in Aapier last night and will be given a civic reception to-day. On Thursday he Will inspect the Territorials.—Press wire. Word has beeu received of the death at Dargaville of Mrs. Geo. Caiman, self., who was for 55 years a resident of Wanganui, and one of the oldest pioneers of that district. Word has been received by cable that Dr. O. B. Townshend, D.L.S., Philadelphia, has passed examination as L.U.S., London, and will be returning to New Zealand at an early date. Mr. A. J. Renton, who for over two years has been a member of the Hawera staff of the Bank of New South Wales, has received notice of his transfer to Dannevirke, Hawke's Bay. Members of the directorate of the Taranaki Petroleum Company banquetted Mr. C. Carter, their chairman, last evening in the Piccadily refreshment rooms, presented him with a writer's companion and a Mosgiel travelling rijg, and wished him bon voyage. Mr. H. D. Coutts. Government Land Valuer in the Wairarapa, and formerly of Taranaki, is being transferred to the Manawatu district, with headquarters at Palnjerston North. His place in the Wairarapa will be taken by Mr. Fowler, at present Government Land Valuer is the Tuihape district. Color-Sergeant John Murray, V.C., died on April Bth, aged eighty-three year* (says the Leinster Reporter). He enlisted when a young man in the 68th Durham Light Infantry. Shortly afterwards he went to the Crimean war, gaining the medal and four bars, with the Turkish medal. Subsequently he served in the West Indies, Australia, and New Zealand. Here he won the Victoria Cross and the New Zealand medal in the Maori war in 1864. He was also awarded the good conduct and long-service medal. He won the Cross for his conspicuous bravery on the occasion when Corporal Byrne, V.C., another Irishman, of the 68th, was the first man into the rifle pits, and a Maori, whom he thrust through, seized his rifle with one hand and, with the bayonet through his body, tried to tomahawk the corporal, but his life was saved by Sergeant Murray, who also charged into a pa, where there were eight or ten of the natives. Singlehanded, he killed or wounded every or* of them—feats of valour that perhang were never excelled by the wearer of the Queen's uniform. On being discharged, he was granted a life .pension, and some years later £lO a year additional f« the Victoria Cross.