PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. M'Diarmid, late manager of - the Bank of New South Wales, is at present in New 'Plymouth, and is stopping afaihe Grand Central. The death has occurred in the Wairau Hospital of Mr Frank McCalltun, cider son of Mr EJichard MdCalluJnat MjP. A brother of the lata Father Dore, M.C., was recently ordained in Ireland, and will arrive in New Zealand shortly. He will take up work in the Auckland diocese. A New York cable message states-that M. Metin, a French ex-Minister, who was on route to Australia on a special mission, died of apoplexy at an American Pacific port.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. Captain Malcolm Boss, New Zealand official correspondent with the forces ia the field, cables, under date August 9, | stating that "the King to-day held an I investiture at the front, at which lie New Zealand Commander was invested with his K.C.8." One of Ashburton'a earliest settlors, Mr. James Storey Bland, died ott Tnesday night at his home at Wmclnnoie, in kis 89th year. The late Mf. Bland ins born at Sunderland, Durham, tongfatid, in 1850, and was the second son of the late James Bland, and came to Now Zealand with his father in 1859. A memorial service for the late Mr. John Hewitt was held in'the New Plymouth Baptist Tabernacle yesterday forenoon. The Rev. A. C. Sievcwright took for his text Rev. vii, 9. Appropriate hymns were sung, and the choir rendered for an anthem "Vital Spark of Heavenly Flame." There was a guutx congregation, and the > service throughout was very impressive.

Information has been received' by the iPrimate (Bishop Ncvill) that Chaplain W. H. Ford, of tho Suffolk, met his death off the coast of Belgium (says the 'Nelson Mail). The late chaplain was formerly a student of Selwyn College, and later had charge of the Anglican Church at Stewart. Island, when ho proceeded to England, where he was appointed to a chaplaincy in the Navy. A Christchurch message reports the death of Mr Ronald Opie, as the result of a motor accident a month ago. Eijjht or nine yeatg ago Mr Opie was a prominent amateur siprinter, winning the Australasian championships, also representing the Dominion in the Empire Carnival in England in 1911. Mr Opie was a solioolmasiter and was the son of Mr C. H. Opie, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board.

CorpoTal Jim Gardner, who is oil final leave, was given a farewell social at Kawaroa Park on Friday evening, a large number of friends being present. An enjoyable programme, consisting of songs and recitations, was contributed. There was also dancing, and during an interval Mr. Howarth presented Corporal Gardner with a wristlet wfctcb. He spoke of the recipient's many good qualities, and wished him the best of luck and a safe return. Corporal Gardner returns to camp to-day. Mr Alexander George Ashby, who has died at Kaiapoi, was one of the bestknown and most respected civil servaata in North Canterbury. -Bom in Christchurch fifty-nine years ago, he joined the Justice Department early in life, first serving on the staff of the Magistrate's Court at Dunedin. Later he was on the staff of the Supreme Court, and eventually served for some time as Receiver of gold revenue at Riverton, and an officer of the Magistrates and Warden's Courts. At the time of his death he had filled the position of clerk of court; registrar of electors, secretary of the Licensing Committee, and registrar oi old-age pensions at Kaiapoi and Rangiora. He became interested in the firm of Ashby, Bergh, and Co., Ltd., on the death of his brother, Mr E. C. Ashby, but recognising the dearth of senior, members on the staff of the Justice Department, refrained from resigning during the war period. He leaveß a widow, four sons, and three daughters. One of Auckland's oldest settlers, Mr Samuel Blomfield, died at Birkenhead, in his eighty-third year. Mr Blomfield arrived in the Waitemata in' 18fl2, with the Albert settlers, in tlio ship Gertrude, and was soon settled in the city, following his trade, that of a joiner. When the Thames goldfield was opened in 1567, Mr Blomfield was a member of one of the earliest parties of pioneer diggers. Failing to make any discovery of importance in prospecting, he reverted to hi 3 handicraft, which he <»rried on at Thames until aibout 1880, when he returned to Auckland. A branch of trade in which Mr Blomfield specialised was that of staircase building, and most of the staircases in the large warehouses of the city were constructed by him. Aibout ten years ago he retired from active business, and for some time past he had made his home at Birkenhead. The deceased is survived by Mrs Blomfield and ten sons and daughtersHis sons , are: Mr William Blomfield, Mayor of Takapunn, Messrs Charles, John C., Fred, and Thomas Blomfield. The daughters are Mrs Milton Porter (of WeHjngton), Mrs G. 1-fuddlestone (Birkenhead), Mrs J. MciLeod, Mrs McLennan, and Mrs Carlsen (all of Auckland). There are also a large j number of grandchildren great* gradchild^en.