PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 260, 26 March 1913, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A London cable records the death of Uidy Dorothy Xevill, a well-known figure in social circles in London.

A Washington cable states that Mr. Elliott has declined the oll'er <;f the a])' pointmcnt of Ambassador to JJritain.

The death occurred yesterday at Fitzl'ov of Mr. .Colin Luke, formerly a resident of Lepperton, at the advanced age of 72 years. Deceased, who had resided in Lepperton for over thirty years, was highly respected. He leaves a widow, five daughters, and one son.

the Prime Minister und the Minister for Public Works will visit Taranaki next week. They will arrive in Eltham by Tuesday night's cxpreas. The tour includes Opunake, Inglewood, Now Plymouth. Stratford, Manaia and Hawor'a, as well as other places.—Own correspondent.

Air. Henry liecker died on Thursday morning at the Ooronuuidcl Hospital while an anaesthetic was being administered prior to an operation for the removal of a cancerous growth in the lip. Mr. Becker was born in Kent in the year 1828, and had therefore attained the ripe old age of eighty-five years, ITe left the Old Country early in the year 1842, and landed in New Zealand at Wellington. He went to Coroniandel in the early days with his brother-in-law, the late Dr. Hovel I, and had. resided there over since.

There was a pretty wedding at St. Mary's Church yesterday, when Miss Cissie Y\ illiains, eldest daughter of Mr. W. J. Williams, of New Plymouth, was married to Mr. Xorman Stevens, of Wellington. The ceremony was performed" by the Rev. A. 11. Cofvile. The bridesmaids were Miss Ethel Williams. Miss Emmie Woodgcr (Wellington) and Miss Susie Mills. Mr. C. Duck officiated as jiest man. and Mr. (i. Aston was groomsman. whilst Master Frank Williams acted as page. The bride was prettily attired in cream crepe de chine and her travelling' costume was of grev cloth, with a pretty black and white hat. The two chief bridesmaids wore grey silk voile costumes trimmed will apricot silk to which were added apricot mob caps, whilst Miss Susie Mills wore an Elizabethan cream satin gown with a Juliet cap. The bridegroom's gifts to the bridesmaids were, garnet and peal and Peridot pearl earrings, and to Miss Mills a gold brooch.

An interesting visitor, in the person of Miss Hastings, grand-daughter of Warren Hastings, India's greatest administrator, has been the guest of Mrs. Cullen. of Palmerston, latelv (says the Manawatu Standard), and has left for her home in Lyttolton. Miss Hastings is !)6 years of age. and reads without the aid of glasses; her father was physician to Queen Victoria, and she worthily upholds the reputation for mental brilliancy and activity, for her daily record is greater than one would expect from many women of half her age. In Lyttelton she has a girls' Bible class, and also conducts Latin, botany and other classes, and engages in various pursuits that go to make np a busy life. At this time, when tlie Livingstone centenary is awakening the patriotism of Britishers the ■•world over, it is worthv of note that Miss Hastings was one of those who had the privilege of shaking hands with the famous explorer.