PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 March 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Captain Hardham, V.C., is spending his honeymoon in Taranaki. A London cable reports that Mr. Hughes ia suffering from mild influenza and he will make no speeches for a few days, Mr. E. S. Rutherford, of Stratford, «• ceived information last week of the sudden death of his father, Mr. John Rutherford, at Hamilton, at the advanced age of 81 years, and left next morning by the mail train for the Waikato. The late Mr. Rutherford was one of the earliest settlers in the Wairarapa, having taken up hie residence there in 1863. He was the first settler to take up land Jn the then unbroken virgin bu9h between Masterton and Palmerston North, and he resided at his sheep station, Wairere, for over 45 years. Previous to fcis settling in New Zealand he was an officer in the East India Company's Navy, and saw active service in China and the Persian Gulf. He served in the British expedition which conquered Burma, and in company with his elder brother, Lieutenant-General T. W. Rutherford, he assisted in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. Amongst those passed as £i for service last week at the Auckland recruiting station was Lieut. Forster, of the Bth Bengal Lancers. Lieut. Forster is a New Zealander who was in the Indian Army when war broke out, and with his regiment proceeded to Flanders. In August last, at Neuve Chapelle, ho was f/ae of those Mown up in what is bclitved to'have been the biggest mine explosion on the western battle front. Out of 300 men only 25 escaped. Lieut. Forster was one of the 25, but he remained buried under sandbags and debris for 26 hours before rescue parties could reach him. He was treated in the game ho«pital in England as Lieut-Colonel Pluggc, and after leaving hospital was granted extended leave. Lieut. Forster availed himself of the opportunity to visit Now Zealand, and for some weeks past has lent a great deal of active assistance to the recruiting movement Now that he has again been passed at fit for active service he will leave for England, and rejoin his regiment at the front, ?g»——————> |