PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

In the latest hospital report the following Taranoki names appear:—Seriously ill, E. N. Htmore (M&naia). Still seriously ill, Corporal E- A. Johnson (Patea), R. Jones (Kaimata). Mr. T. B. Strong, the senior inspector for the Wanganui Education District, has been nominated by the Government for the position of representative of the inspectorate on the Council of Education. At the Patea Freezing Works on Wednesday, Mr. D. I. Thompson was presented by the chairman of directors (Mr. W. D. Powdrell) with a cheque from his fellow-workers on the eve of his departure for camip. The company also intimated giving Mr. Thompson a few weeks' holiday on full pay. Miss Rosina Buckmann, the New Zealand soprano, according to Madame Melba's latest information, now ranks as tihe greatest sopra.no in England. In fact, she adds, Sir Thorp as Beeeham, the English opera imipressario, would not now hare a season without her. A Thames pioneer, Mr. William Douglas Reid, died on Sunday evening, aged eighty years. He was born in Belfast, and arrived in Auckland in 1863, and went to the Thames at the opening of the goldfields. For many years he carried on (business as a grocer. He was formerly a member of the Borough Council, was a hospital trustee, leading officer of the Masonic Order, and prominent in many directions. He leaves six daughters and three sons. One daughter is Mrs A. Oldham, Auckland. The family of the late Sir Charles Johnston has a splendid record in the present war. Two sons have been killed (Brigadier-General Earl Johnston and Captain Johnston). There are three sons on active service—lieutenant 0. F Johnston, Harold J. Johnston, and Featherston Johnston. Mrs. Arthur Duncan and Mrs. Gathorne-Hardy are daugh. ters. Miss Johnston (Fitziherbert Terrace, Wellington) and Lady Perceval (wife of Sir Westlby Perceval, England) are sisters. The late Walter Johnston, formerly Minister for Public Works, and for very many years a prominent figuri\ in business circles in Wellington, was a brother. Lieutenant G. F. Johnston recently returned to New Zealand with his father, who had gone to the United States to undergo an operation and medical treatment.

Madame Melba, who was in Auckland on Wednesday, intetnds to go to her home in Melbourne and enjoy what she describes as a "lovely rest " "I do wish," she said to a reporter, "to see once more the girls of my conscrvatorium, and meet the friends of my youth." At present she does not feel inclined to visit America again until the war is over. It is proWble that she will pay a visit to New Zealand shortly, in order to give concerts in aid of the Red Cross institution, .but her plans for the immediate future are Somewhat indefinite. As one aspect of 'her personal interest in the situation of the moment, and particularly the menace of the enemy upon Paris, Dame Melba mentioned that the treasures which she hai been collecting for the last 25 years, and which have cost her £200,000, are all stored in that city. "O&n yon doubt, then," she asked, "that I am specially interested in the events of the next few weeks!"