PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A London cablegram reports that Mr. Coghlan, Agent-General for New South Wales, is convalescent. Mr. W. Birdling, of Waitaja, is leaving next week on a trip to Australia, and will return towards the latter end ol September. Mr. James Austin, the new manager of the Sash and Door Factory, arrived in New Plymouth cm Thursday, and takei up his duties forthwith. Territorial Major F. T. Bellringer returned last night from the military camp of instruction held at Falmcrston North, in order to attend the funeral of the late Mr. G, Tisch. Mr. J. G. Littlejohn, engineer to the Waimea County Council, has been appointed Nelson City engineer. There were eighteen applications from various parts of the Dominion.—Press Association. Mr. E. Bezar writes to the Wellington Post:—"Referring to the cable item in a recent issue, I cannot but express my surprise at the statement that Dudley Stagpoole, V.C., bugler, 57th Regiment, died in a workhouse, and I will no> credit it. His pension must have been over one shilling a day; then there would be his ten pounds a year for the V.C. This, I may say, was gained at Allan's Hill, a few miles south of New Plymouth, in October, 18(13, not in the Waikato, as stated. Ensign Downes, with Stagpoole, brought in a wounded man, Thomas Finn, who, when hit in the head, rushed across to the bush held by the enemy. Finn died from his wounds, as did also Daniel Crane, of my company. Lieutenant Powys was wounded. The pet dog of the regiment also got a wound in the neck, and when asked to show his wound he would turn his head to show the scar. Dudley Stagpoole wa.s the best bugler in the regimont whilst in it, and. knowing him so well for many years, 1 cannot bring myself to believe' that be died as stated. There is a sister in New Plymouth who was in this city until a few years ago. Sergeant Stagpoole, of the Police Force, is a nephew. I might add that Finn and Crane were the first of the military who were buried in the present cemetery in New Plymouth, which was then just opened."