PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 254, 25 March 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Miss Maud Allen, a famous classical' dancer, will pay New Plymouth a visi# on May 29. Mr. W. A. Pawson, a well-known Wan* ganui resident, manager of H. I. Jones* wholesale department, died on Monday, Mr. Walter Bewley leaves this morning for Wellington cn route to the Old Country. He catches the Mongolia at! Sydney and expects to be away about ' nine months. Mr P. S. Whitcombe, Secretary to tha Board of Education, has been indisposed for the past few days. He is now cn the road to recovery, but will not '-a able to resume duties for some days yet. The death occurred at Taueru, near Mosterton,. yesterday morning, of Mr. T. P. Lett, a very old settler. The deceased was 61 years of age, and leaves a widow,, one son, and two daughter* to mourn their loss. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, who hasbeen touring the Akitio coastal district, arrived at Pahiatua yesterdav afternoon and was welcomed by the Mayor (Mr J. D. Crewe), on behalf of the citizens. He left later for Eketahuna. At Timaru lust night, the Rev. J. Featherston, Methodist minister,. was presented by his congregation with a purse of sovereigns. His wife was presented with a brooch. The Kev. J. Featherston has been transferred t» fnglewood.—Press Association. A London correspondent states that Mr Will Hutchens, of Hawera, arrived in London recently, and left again on February 20, by the Remuera. In the interval he was married to Miss Kemp, daughter of the Re/. George Kemp, of Cambridge, euid the. honevmoon iwas spent in Cornwall. Mr. Hutchens firstwent to Rnglaml four or five years ago, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music.

Mr. IF. J. Poutsma, one of tho South African deportees, is a cultured, welleducated man, whose levelheaded advice during the Rand strike of July last did much to restore industrial peace. For a time lie acted as editor of the Bloemfontein Post, wliicli lie was also a teacher in the Constitutional schools, Which were open to both Briton and Boer. He was the founder of the Free State Orphanage at llarrismith. Eighteen montlis ago he was selected as general secretary of tho Railway Workers' Union, and until recently was editor of the Railway and Harbor Gazette (olflcial organ of the Union.) He speaks the English, French, Dutch and German languages. He did not learn English until after the war and is now a complete master of that language. The special correspondent of The Dominion, in telegraphing from Hokitika on the 22nd inst., said:—ln referring to the establishment of new offices for the Dominion of New Zealand in thoStrand, London, instead of in the present position in Victoria Street, Westminster, Mr Masßey on Saturday evening said, incidentally, that he knew nothing of London, as he had s.ient aH his life practically in New Zealand. "But," lie said, "I will know more about it soon, for I am going to London next year as representative of New Zealand."' This declaration, as showing Mr Massey's confidence in being returned to power at the forthcoming general election, was received bv the large audienca of West Coasters with appreciative laughter and applause. Mr. Edwin Blake, one of the old pioneers, died at his home at New Brighton (Christchureh) last week. The late Mr. Blake was born in 1830 in Hampsteud, London, was brought up as a civil engineer, and was employed on the British railways for some years. He came out to New Zealand in 18(11, and settled first at Port. Chalmers. Two years later he came to Canterbury and was employed on the West Coast road, then being constructed by the Provincial Government. After the completion <>f (he section from Arthur's Pass to Hokitika, Mr. Blake settled in Westland for some years. He returned to Canterbury in 1882, and became engaged in sheep-farming and agriculture. He was n member of the old Avon, Road Board, and held office us chairman for six or seven years. He was also a member of the Xew Brighton Borough Council, and represented the eon'titneney of Avon in Parliament for six veilrs, being defeated at the 18(10 election by Mr. \V. VV. Tanner.