PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 143, 4 November 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A Sydney cablegram states that Professor MacMillan Brown has arrived from a six months' trip to the Malay Archipelago. He will sail for New Zealand on November 'J. Mr. J. W. Batten, a settler of many yeans' standing at Tokaora (near Hawera), died on Friday morning at the age of 78. He is survived by his widow and a family of two sons and five daughters.

Mr. A. V. Macdonald, late district engineer of the New Zealand railways, and for a number of years a resident in Parnell, died at Te Awamutu on Sunday evening, the immediate cause of death being peritonitis. On retiring from public (service, the deceased settled on his Tltorncombe estate, near Te Awamutu. It is estimated that about 9000 signatures have been attached to the address to be presented at Auckland to the Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey), but the exact figures will not be known for a few days. The testimonial will be presented to the Prime Minister when he goes to Auckland to open the new post office buildings. The late Mr. Robert A. Rickards, says the Wanganui Chronicle, whose death at the advanced age of 88, occurred recently, was the last New Zealand member of the adventurous party, who migrated from New Brunswick. Canada, in 1852 and settled in Australia and New Zealand. The party formed a syndicate and bought a brig of about 300 tons burden, and left St. John, the capital of New Brunswick in August. 1552. They arrived in Melbourne in January 1853. The New Zealand party after remaining about a month in Melbourne, came on to New . Zealand in a vessel called the Belle Creole, commanded by Captain Fenton, arriving in Wellington on the Ist February. On the recommendation of Governor Grey they decided to take up land at Wanganui. The journey from Wellington was made through the Horakiwi Valley, round Porirua Bay over the Paekakariki spur of the Tararua range and then along the coast. They arrived in Wanganui on May 18th. 1853. The late Sir 'William Steward ("the Father of New Zealand's Parliament") was born in 1841. at Reading, Berks, and was educated at King Edward VI. Grammar School, Ludlow, Salop. Arriving in New Zealand in 1802, lie settled at Christchurch, removing after a few years to Oamaru. where he held prominent public positions, including those of member for Waitaki, and Mayor of Oamaru. Sir William took a great interest in volunteer matters, eventually becoming major commanding the North Otago district. lie was in Parliament for nearly forty years, as member for Waitaki 1871-75, and member for Waimate from 1881 to 1011. Last year lie retired and was appointed to the Legislative Council, Sir William, who was knighted in 1002. was engaged in commercial pursuits until 18G7, and from that date till 1000 was engaged in journalism, as editor or proprietor of the North Otago Times, Waimate Times, Asliburton Mail and Guardian. He published some volumes of poems and a book on Parliament Procedure in New Zealand.