PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 279, 28 April 1914, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Mr. J. Mci an returned from WMl'iagton by last .night's express. Mr. ,T. E. Wilson is indisposed and unlikely to be about for n few days. Constable Wroblenski, of New Plymouth, has been appointed Inspector of Weights and Measures for Taranaki. Mr. Cyril Nicholls, son of Mr. A. '.'. "Sieliolls, formerly of Inglewoorl, has won the gymnasium championship of Australia."

Mr. P. Morris, formerly on the local Deeds Office stuff, arrived }a.«t night, and will relieve during Cap'im Fletcher's aosence at the Territorial camp.

Mr. Wilson Heaps, Sheriff of Nelson, on Monday last celebrated his 50th anniversiiry of his connection with the Public Service. Mr. Heaps arrived in Xciv Zealand in ISO 4, and entered the Customs -service in that year. Mr. Heaps retired in 11)04 [rom the position of Resident Magistrate of Takaka. Collingwood, Motueka, and Brightwatcr after 40 years' service, but he retained this ollice of sheriff of Nelson.

Mr. Baring Gould, the English novelist, who has just passed his 80th birthday, is publishing a. book of memories with Messrs. Methuen, the With book that has come from his pen. Mr. Baring Gould started writing books when he was 20 years of age, and lie has written novels, sermons, hooks of travel, books about ghosts, and wcrc-wolvc» and fairies. He was born in Exeter, and is the rector of Lew Trenchard, in North Devo».

The death is announced at Washington of Mr. George Vanderbilt, son of Mr. W. 11. Vanderbilt. He was known as the shyest millionaire in the United States, the Mail says. Mr. Vanderbilt, who was fifty-three, was chiefly remarkable for his feat in carving out of the mountains in a North Carolina wilderness a gigantic estate of 130,000 acres, which he stocked with an almost priceless collection of cattle, trees, shrub", and rare plants. On the summit of o mountain he erccW a gorgeous palace called Biltmore. the maintenance of which cost him the whole of his immense revenue. It is improbable that any other millionaire would care to undertake the cost of keeping Biltmore, and it is surmised that it will be given into the custody of the Government. Mr. Vanderbilt. who was an uncle of the Duchess of Marlborough, leaves no children.