PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 8 December 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. H. M. Didsbury, formerly local manager of the New Zealand Insurance Co., and since, then manager at Bemligo, has been transferred to Napier. A Melbourne cable reports the death of Signor Dammaeco, one of the principals of Melba's Grand Opera Company, lie had been ailing for some time; An Adelaide message announces the death of Sir Jenkin Coles, ex-Speaker of the Assembly. He occupied the chair for twenty-one sessions, and never missed a sitting, a feat that is unparalleled in the Parliaments of the world For the second time in two years the Rev. Frank Swainson, vicar of the Church of St. Barnabas, HolJoway (London), has received and declined the offer of the living of Middleton Church, Manchester, tho annual stipend of which is £lOl9, his present income being only £285 per annum. He prefers to work in a poor industrial parish. Mr. John Catt, sen., of Upper Plain, Masterton, a very old settler of Wairarapa, died on Wednesday morning, aged ninety-five yeans. Deceased arrived in New Zealand in ISSB, and resided in Wellington for some years. Thirty-seven years ago Mr. Catt went to Masterton, purchasing tho property at Upper Plain, where he resided till the time of his death. He was married' fifty-five years ago, and is survived by a widow and four children. Lord Onslow, who died last month, was a lineal descendant of 110 fewer than three Speakers of the House of Commons —Richard Onslow,, who occupied the chair in 150(5; Sir Richard Onslow, who ■was speaker in the reign of Queen Anne; and Arthur Onslow, who was Speaker during the entire reign of George 11. Viscount Cranley, who succeeds to the earldom, is thirty-four years of age. He married Lord Poltimore's only daughter five years ago. A well-known citizen of Wellington, Mr. A. R. V. Lodder, died shortly before 11 o'clock on Wednesday evening, aged fiftynine years. The deceased had been in his usual good health up to last Friday, when he took to his bed, and his end camo somewhat suddenly. Mr. Lodder, who was a native of England, had been a resident of Wellington for many years. He was proprietor of the City Buffet Hotel, Lambton quay, and of the Bellevue Gardens Hotel, Lower Hutt. He leaves a widow and eight children. One of the best known sportsmen in New Zealand, Mr. Prideaux Francis Tancred, came to a sad end on Wednesday afternoon through hanging himself by a strap to his bed at his residence at Masterton. A nurse discovered his body about G o'clock, and th«i.doctor considered that he had then been dead an hour. The decased gentleman, who was' last seen alive at 2 o'clock, had been very despondent of late. Mr. Tancred, who was well known in Wellington, having resided there for a number of years, was bom in 1850, and was a son of the late Sir Thomas Tancred, and brother of the late Sir Thomas Selby Tancred, who | died in London last year. He was once a well known footballer, and was one of the founders of Rugby football in Wairarapa. He was one of the best players in the Wellington province in the early eighties and played for the province on more than one occasion. The death occurred at Masterton on Wednesday morning of Mr. A. P. Rawson. Deceased had been ill for some considerable time, and was making steady progress towards recovery when he suffered a relapse. The late Mr. Rawson was sixty-four years of age, and with his parents came to New Zealand fifty years ago, arriving at Auckland. His father, Dr. Rawson, was honorary surgeon of the Home forces which came to the colony. Dr. Rawson and family iremoved to Taranaki shortly afterwards, but returned to Auckland again with the troops when the Maori war broke out. Subsequently the late Mr. Rawson and his brothers ■engaged in farjning pursuits in Taranaki. Some thirty years ago Mr. Rawson went to Nelson, where he studied for a surveyor and passed J>is examination. After practising successfully in Nelson for many years lie went to Masterton about thirteen years ago. Deceased, who was of a kindly disposition, and very popular, leaves two brothers—Dr., Rawson and Mr. H. P. Rawson, dentist (of Wellington), a stepbrother (Mr. Walter Rawson, judge of the Native Land Court), and two stepsisters, who reside in England; five cliildren—Mrs. p. W. Dunn (Ballance), Miss C. E. Rawson, and Messrs. Harry, T. and G. Rawson; and a widow.