PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Private C. Barker, who has received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, belongs to Cardiff. Sergeant-Major Howard Seldon, of New Plymouth, who was recently invalided home from the Dardanelles, is visiting New Plymouth. Mr. W. Haselden, S.M., is temporarily taking up work as a magistrate in the Hawera district, during the absence oj Mr. IW. G. Kenriek, S.M., on extended leave. Sir John Anderson, of the Colonial office, has been appointed Governor of Ceylon, and Sir George Fiddes, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Colonies, succeeds Sir .Tolm Anderson. Mr. Alex. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, has been accepted for service with the relief force for Samoa. He is a qualified wireless operator, and will serve in that capacity. Private letters received in Eltluim intimate that Mr. Alf. MoGarry has come well through the operation that he recently underwent, and he hopes to leave the private hospital in about a fortnight. Mr. S. Elliot, who was appointed delegate from the Waihi-Onaero sub-T>ranch of the North Taranaki Patriotic Comjinittee, has resigned, and Mr. George Graham has been appointed in his stead.

In connection with the absence of the Rev. W. Cannell. of New Plymouth, from the Methodist Synod at Hawera this week, the Synod's congratulation upon the recent celebration of his golden wedding, and its hopes for many more evidences of Divine favor towards him were directed to be conveyed. Mr. Herbert Babbage ,at one time art master at Hawera Technical School, but who has been for many years in England pursuing his profession with success, is now doing military duty, Rather oddly (says the Star) it fell to his work to guard an important bridge of which his grandfather was designer. Trooper Lex Caselberg, whose name appeared in the lUt of New Zealanders awarded the Distinguished Conduct Jiedal for bravery at Gallipoli, is the only son of Mr. Lionel Oasclberg, of Wellington. He is an old Wellington College boy. He went away from New Zealand with the Signalling Company. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister for Education, is at' present in Auckland. His visit to the northern city is in connection with questions relating to primary, secondary, and technical education. He will also, before his return to Wellington, go into the matter of the proposed new university site.

A well-known Aucklander, Mr. R. T. Graham, died on Monday at Takapuna, aged 66 years. Deceased was a son or the late George Graham, who was an officer in the Royal Engineers in the early days of Auckland. Amongst his brothers are Mr. W. A. Graham and Mr. J. B. Graham, solicitor. The Auckland Star says that it is a singular thing to think of to-day, that deceased's father had a farm which included the valuable site now occupied by the Y.M.C.A. buildings, the Working Men's Club, and the Art Society's rooms, in Wellesley and Coburg streets. Until recently n fine oak tree grew there which was planted by Mrs. Graham's mother. When the road caved in a few years ago in Wellesley Street East, Mr. Graham was looking at it, and remarked to a bystander: "That's the hole where we used to water our cows." Last November deceased was elected a member of the Waitemata Countv Council to represent Takapuna Riding.

The Wanganui Herald of Wednesday, says: The death this morning of Mrs. George Walker, at her residence, Dublin Street, removes vet another of the few remaining pioneer settlers of New Zealand. Deceased, who was in her S2nd year, arrived with her parents (t!ie late Mr. anil Mrs. Thomas TulTin) and her brother (Mr. George TulTin, of Wanganui, who i? still hale and hearty) over 70 years ago. They landed at New Plymouth on November 2, 1842, from the ship Blenheim, the third vessel to reach New Zealand from the Old Land. Twelve or thirteen years afterwards Mrs. Walker came with her husband to Wanganui, where they commenced farming operations on the Mission Line, subsequently settling on the Mount Jowett farm at Aramoho, where they resided for nearly half a century. The late Mrs. Walker experienced the many vicissitudes incidental to pioneering life, including the troublous period during the Maori wars on the coast. In the early days Mrs. Walker was a familiar figure in Wanganui. The following members of the family are left to mourn their loss : Mr. Tom Walker, of Waikanae; Mrs. Hatchard, Wellington; Mrs. Sewell and Mrs. J. F. Holloway, Wanganui j Messrs George, John and F. J. Walker. Wanganui; and Mr. C. H. Walker, Ha-, weva.