PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 178, 27 January 1914, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Dr. F. W. King-, who was admitted to an Auckland hospital over a week ago, suffering from a fractured skull, has partially regained consciousness, there arc indications of improvement in his condition.

' It is the intention of Mr. W. J. Mof.fatt, who stood as an Independent Lib'oral at the last election, to again contest the Nelson city seat at the forthcoming election.

The late Mr. Waller Steward, wiio was killed by falling down the bold of Tainui at Tiinaru a few days ago, was a brother of the late Sir William Steward.

A very old Southland resident, in the person of llr. Robert CoupUmd, passed away in InvercavgiU last week at the "advanced age of eighty years.

. Admiral Dewey can write as well ; s ji fight. His autobiography, wliich was pui>I lished recently, has a naval interest far beyond the limits of the American Republic, wheh this oilicer has served with such devotion and distinction. Admiral Dewey's forbears, wdio were Huguenots, and called themselves by the name of Douai, after emigrating from France to the, English county of Kent in search of religious freedom, later on crossed the Atlantic in the eifort to iind more religious freedom, and.then in ISSI George Dewey, the son of a New ICngland tovn, entered the navy because he. wanted :-o room. Thus there is the sequence of events from the Kentish village io the victory at Manila Ray and promotion to the rank of admiral. T11~, lir.-t ernl-e as a midshipmon was to the Mediterranean, and the period spent in Kuiopeau waters had no blight inftucVo on the young officer's character. If broadened bis mind, and he was brought into association with men of many nationalities. The memories of this early acquaintance with British naval officers are still fresh in the Admiral's mind, and lead him to recall the origin of the phrase, "Blood is thicker than water."' A British crew, be says, had suffered severely under the tiro from Wh> Chinese forts in the Pci River in ISSO. An American officer named. I'atnnU saw what was happening, and, turning to a junior officer, uttered the famous words, ordered bis boat to be manned, and with bis own men took the places of the fallen British gunners.

Tho long and distinguished active career in the Navy of Admiral Sir Francis Bridgenian lias closed on that officer celebrating his sixty-fifth birthday. For fifty-one years Sir Francis has been associated with the. sea service, holding in later years some of tlic most honorable and responsible appointments at sea and on shore. As a flag olliccr ho served first in the Cliamicl fleet and then in the Mediterranean Fleet, and hi- was the first commander-in-chief of the Home Fleet on its reconstitnlioii in March, 1007. Ten years afterwards he was selected to become Second Sea Lord and remained in the Admiralty unlil March, 1011, when lie again hoisted his Hag in the Home Fleet. In December of the same year lie returned lo Whitehall to fill the vacancy as First Sea Lord, caused by the withdrawal of Admiral of tlic Fleet Sir Arthur Wilson, lie retired from this oflice a year later, and received the fi.C.B. from his Majesty in recognition of bis services. The removal, of Sir Francis Bridgemaii'-' name, from the active list gave a step in rank to Yice-Admiral John Deni.son, who. it is now announced, retired voluntarily on the following day, after being a full admiral on the active list for eNactly "«<• day. Rear-Admiral W. 11. Baki-r-liaker lias also been placed on the, retired lh.l- - bis own request. In consequence of the creation of these vacancies, VicAdmiral Sir Alfred Paget has become a full admiral. Rcar-Admirals Sir Colin Keppel and Sir Douglas Gamble have Income vice-admirals, and Captains Arthur C. Leveson, Sydney R. Fremanlle and Henry F. Oliver has reached the lla; list. '