PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 154, 28 December 1911, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A cablegram from Delhi reports (he death of the Maharajah of Xahha, Sir llira Singh.

The Prime Minister left fur Christchurch last night, lie returns 011 Friday morning.—Wellington wire.

Mr. Maple,sden, a resident of New Zealand for thirty-eight years, nearly the whole of which have been spent in Wellington, died on Christmas Day, aged 64 years. The demised, who was a member of an old Kentish family, leaves a widow and seven adult children. Lieutenant Inn Ktandish, of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, who, is now in England undergoing military training, has been granted local rank in the Imperial Army during the period of his attachment to a unit of the Imperial Army, and is to have seniority as from September 5 in the military forces of the Dominion.

Mr. A. Hope Blake, a very old colonist, died on December 18th, after a brief illness. His parents came to Wellington in 1841, landing in January, and the late Mr. Blake was born on the voyage out. He had thus been practically seventy-one years in Niw Zealand, and was probably the youngest colonist o£ his time. He was brought up in Wellington, but as a young man came to Hawke's Bay, where he started business as a baker (says the Herald). During the Maori troubles he was a member of the militia, and was in active service against the Maoris in 18(i(i. He took part in the Oamaranui engagement, and was out 011 the Te Kooti expedition. Mr. Blake was awarded the New Zealand war medal by Governor Bowen. About 1874 lie left Napier for Canterbury. He was in business at Lyttelton for eight years, aHd for the remainder of the time in Cliristchurch.

Mr. Thomas Ching, an old resident of Auckland,, died at his residence, Reinuera, on Friday last. The late Mr. Ching, who was 77 years of age, arrived in Australia many years ago, and spent some time in prospecting on the goldfields. When Dunedin became the centre of mining activity, Mr. Ching went to Otago. Later he followed mining at Hokitika, Greymouth, and the Thames, before taking up his residence in Auckland. Mr. Ching was a director of the Auckland Gas Company. During his long residenco there he made many friends, and he was a popular member of the Auckland Club. The late Mr. Ching leaves a widow, one daughter, and three sons, Mr. Carey Ching, of Wairangi; Mr. T. Bayntum Ching, branch manager for the South British Insurance Company at Napier; and Mr. Wilmot'Ching, who is at present completing his studies as an. architect in London. "Great men sometimes outlive the popular recollection of their greatness, so that when they die their death creates little commotion among the living (writes 'Mercutio' in the Auckland Herald). Had the Rev. Dr. David Bruce, who died in Sydney a few days ago, passed away thirty-five years before, no man's death would have caused a greater sensation in the city of Auckland. 4-t that time he was one of our foremost and best-known citizens, and probably no minister of the Presbyterian Church in this country was ever more respected and beloved by his people. The story of all he did for that church in the early days of the colonly is never likely to be told, for there are few now remaining who knew it even imperfectly, but there can be no doubt that he rendered it an immen.se service. Endowed with a. powerful frame and an iron constitution, an indefatigable worker, a splendid organiser, an earnest and able preacher, and a man gifted with a clear and sound judgment, he was indeed a strong pillar of tho kirk. What Selwyn was to Anglicanism, Dr. Bruce was to Presbyterianism. It was my good fortune to know him intimately many years ago, and I never met one who had so gentle and lovable a disposition or who could be so kind and charming a guide, philosopher, and friend."