PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Or. J. B. Murdoch has been TtnarrS mously re-elected chairman of tha Hnwcra County Council, A London message states that Mr. George Cave, K.C;, and Mr. Justice Peterson have been knighted. It is understood that Mr. "Percy White will be a candidate for the vacancy on the Taranaki Education Board, caused by the resignation of Mr. A. M. Bradbury. The Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), who will preside at the session of the Supreme Court here, arrived in New Plymouth from Wellington, on Saturday night. > '' The Attorney-General (the Hon. A. L. HerdmanJ arrived in Now Plymouth on Saturday night. His visit here is in connection with the Supreme Court. ' A Sydney cable announces the death of Mr. Richards, M.L.A., for Drummoyne, who expired suddenly while attending a bowling match. At Xormanby on Friday night, the Rev. J. W. Butler, who left on Saturday for Samoa, was the recipient of presentations from the National Reserve and from the townspeople. - Mr. Sturnee, formerly of tjie Union Company's service, who was one of the survivors of the British ship Woodford, is amongst those who are now being held to ransom by North African tribes. Mr. Sturnee was third officer of tko Tarawera, and left the service to join a Singapore shipping Arm. Tho Rev. John Stevens, late of Papakaio Presbyterian Church, North Otago, who lias been living in retirement at Wanganui, died on Sunday week, aged seventy-two. Deceased's pastorate of bis southern charge extended over thirty* flvo years. He leaves one son, Dr. Steven, of Stratford, and two daughters, Misa Steven, who attended her. father at home, and Miss M. Steven, 8.A., B.Sc,, of the Wanganui Technical College. Mr. R. W. Dalton, who has been appointed Imperial Trade Commissioner for New Zealand in succession to Mr, W, G. Wickham, is a senior staff officer of the British Board of Trade. He was associated for many years with the commercial intelligence branch of the board. Recently lie has been doing work in voumetions with the Munitions Department in the 'United Kingdom. Mr. Dalton will reach New Zealand early in February. Colonel Logan, Officer Commanding the Samoan expedition, and now Adniini>trator of German Samoa, enemy territory in military occupation, is to have leave of absence from his position for a period. The Prime Minister soys that (/olonel Logan will return to Samoa again as Administrator on the expiry of his leave, and that .reports to the contrary were unfounded. A large umber of postal officer* met m the mailroom of the Auckland l'ost Office last Tuesday atfernoon to bid farewell and make a presentation to Mr. Thomas Aitken, assistant postmaster of the Chief Post Office, Auckland, who lias retired from the postal service after forty years' service. Mr. Aitken joined the .postal department at the Thames in 1875, and eventually became' ihief clerk of that office. In 1007 lie was apopinted accountant of the Auckland office, and. in December, 1!)10, was promoted to the position of assistant postmaster, a position he held until his retirement oil superannuation. The Pntea Prc.ss says that before the ' local Court rose on Thursday,' Mr, E L. Barton, on behalf of the members of the Bar in the district, tendered his Worship. Mr. W; G. Kenrk'k, the best vvi«he? of all for an enjoyable holiday, and trusted he would return restored to complete health. Mr Kenriek. in thanking Mr. Barton for hw pood wi>hes, said he had not had a holiday of more than, six weeks' duration for the last twenty years, and he felt it was time he took a rest. He had been on the Bench how for twelve years, and had had no holiday during that time. lie hoped that the holiday would result in his roturn'ns* completely restored to health.