PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. Cecil Gray is. on a short visit to New Plymouth. Mr. 11. W. Forster, Parliamentary secretary to the British War Office, has resigned owing to ill-health, and lias been given a peerage. Mr. Robert Mackenzie Watson, barrister, has been appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate, says a telegram from Wellington. Mr. P. Jackson, manager of the New Plymouth branch of the Union Bank, left yesterday on a month's holiday, which is being spent in the Wellington and Nelson districts. He is accompanied by Mrs. Jackson. A cable from New York says:—The Washington correspondent of the Times states that Mr. G. M. Hitchcock (leader of the Democrats in the Senate) was unable to confer witli President Wilson, as the physicians advised against it. An old identity of Masterton has passed away, in the person of Mr. Thomas Warner. The deceased was 83 years of age, and had been failing in health during the past year, owing to a motor accident. Mr. Warner came to New Zealand over fifty years ago, and had spent most of the time since in Masterton, where he had been closely identified with brass band matters and horticulture.

The death is reported from Masterton of Mr. T. B. Miehell. The deceased went to Masterton in the early seventies, and for many years followed the occupation of a builder. In 1898 he was elected to the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, and he had been a prominent member ever since, having on several occasions filled the position of chairman. He had also occupied the highest offices in the Order of Druids. Mr. Miehell, who was 65 years of age, has left a widow nad a family of one son and five daughters. Colonel Hugh Stewart, C.M.G., D.S.O, M.C., a distinguished Canterbury soldier, is returning to New Zealand on the Ruahine, Which is expected tQ arrive at Auckland on December 20. Colonel Stewart left New Zealand as a lieutenant with the Main Body, Canterbury Regiment. He saw service throughout the Gallipoli campaign, and after the evacuation was given the command of the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regynent, At the • conclusion of hostilities, Colonel Stewart was promoted to the rank of colonel, and took charge of the educational scheme for the N.Z.E.F. Colonel Stewart holds the Chair of Languages at Canterbury College. The Eltham Argus records the death of Mr. Joseph Johnson, of Cheal Road, Ngaere, who passed away on Wednesday night, in his 83rd year. He was an old colonist, having landed in Oamaru in 1874, He afterwards lived for a time at Kakaramea, where he settled 38 years ago, earning the respect and esteem of all who knew him. What Ngaere was like 38 years ago can easily be imagined. Those were the days of pack-tracks and hardships, and it took men with strong muscles and brave hearts to enter the forests and make a home. Mr. Johnson was one of that kind, and made a success of his pioneering venture. Mr. Johnson leaves behind him a widow, who has th? sympathy of her many friends, and th* following sons and daughters:—Mr. W. Johnson (Ngaere), Mr. E. Johnson (Kiore), Mrs. Bettridge (Cromwell Road), Miss Johnson (Te Puke), Mrs. P. W. Johnson (Cambridge), Mrs. j, G. Robertson (Stewart Road), and Mrs. R. L. Suisted (Woodville).