PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The Kaiap'oi Presbyterian congregation last night extended* a call to the. Rev. Laisley, of Bluff.

Messrs. W. T. Jennings and M. Healy have been appointed to the directorate of the New Plymouth Gas Company, vice Messrs. A. McL. Thomson and G. A. Corney, resigned.

At the Patea Hospital on Tuesday, Mrs. Beer, wife of Mr. William llec'i. Manutahi, passed away at the ,-igo c-f Mi after a short illnesf, supervening ">i inlluenza. With her husband the deceased lady settled in Manutahi over 'lO years ago. having come direct from Deal.. Kei.t. England. Their only son is Mr. (i. W. Beer who resides at'lTurleyville. At the present time Mr. Beer, senior, is .1 ]atient in the Patea Hospital.-—Star.

Mr. Robert Barr, the novelist, died at his residence, in Surrey, England, on 'October 21. Bom in Scotland in 1850, he spent his childhood in Canada. After a period as schoolmaster, lie drifted into journalism and gained some renown as "Luke Sharp" in the Detroit Free Press. In 1881 he went to London and started a London edition of this paper. A writer of versatile talents, ranging from broad humor to sensational fiction, he turned out a great number of works, including "The Mutable Many" (a. strike story), "The Speculation of John Steele." (a financial novel), and "The Tempestuous Petticoat." With Mr. Jerome K. Jerome in ISO2 he founded "The Idler," but retired three years later to devote himself to fiction. A strange episode in his life was that in which he became an Iroquois chief, this honor being conferred on him for his services in concluding a treaty. Later- a ehief of the tribe visited London in connection with a grievance, and in his most elaborate warpaint was taken to the House of Commons by Mr. Barr. Mr. Gladstone took up (he matter, and justice was done.

I Henry Herbert, n survivor of the charge of the Light Brigade, died on November 8 (says the Daily Telegraph), at Windsor road, Thornton-heath, at the age of 78 years. When a young man he ran away from home and joined the 4th Light Dragoons, now the 4th Hussars, and was at the Duke of Wellington's funeral with the regiment in 1852. At the battle of Balaclava, ho saw Captain Nolan ride up to Lord Liican with the fateful message, and then horses were mounted. On the question whether the "Charge" was sounded or not, Herbert's aecount is that the first order was "Walk," followed by the "Trot." So galling became the fire that the brigade spontaneously broke into a gallop, and then into the "Charge," without it having been sounded by the trumpets. Other survivors, Herbert claimed, bore him out in this particular. 7Te himself came out of the fray unscathed, and recalled the surprise of a Russian general on hearing that the charge was made on empty stomachs. Herbert left the service with the rank of sergeant, and for twenty years was successful as a builder. Afterwards he was less fortunate, but in his declining year? was comfortably provided for,