PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1921, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. A. E. Sykes returned last night from a ten weeks’ business visit to the Australian States. The death has occurred of Mr. William Cuthbertson Russel, at a private hospital in Auckland, after an illness of only a few (Uys. The deecased was widely known and highly respected in commercial circles. Mr. Edwin Parrott, a well-known resident of Eltham, has decided to take up his residence in New Plymouth. Mr. Parrott has been in ill health for some time past, and recently made a trip to England. A resident of New Zealand for 53 years, Mr. R. E. McKay, has died at Newmarket, aged 72 years. For a time he served in the Armed Constabulary in the Patea district. Subsequently Mr. McKay was appointed inspector, of stores under the New Zealand Railways The death of Mr. W. L. Newman (who was vice-president of the New Plymouth Savings Bank) was referred to at a meeting of the governors of the bank yesterday, and a vote of condolence with Mrs. Newman was passed. Mr. R. Cock was appointed vice-president of the bank. An old resident of Mr. James Miller, has died. With the exception of two years, deceased spent his whole life in one homestead at Otahuhu. Mr. Miller was the only brother of the late Mr. John Miller, of Mangere Moun- ; tain, and second son of the late Sergeant Miller, of Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade, who arrived in the ship Ann in charge of the pensioners who formed Otahuhu settlement over 72 years ago. At the annual meetng of the National Dairy Association a vote of sympathy was passed with the relatives of the late Mr. W. Richards, of Cardiff, whose association with the Cardiff factory dated back to 1891, a period of 30 years—a record which the president said would be hard to beat. A similar vote was passed with the family of the late Mr. W. J. MaKee, chairman of the Omata factory.

Archbishop O’Shea, speaking at the Hibernian Society breakfast at Wellington on Sunday, said that Archbishop Redwood was the longest-consecrated bishop in the world. One other bishop, still living in France, was consecrated in the same month, but Archbishop Redwood was consecrated two days earlier, so he is, therefore, although not the oldest, the longest-consecrated bishop in the world at the present time.

The many friends of Major T. Bartlett, D. 5.0., formerly of Hawera and now of South Africa, brother of Mr. .J, Bartlett, of Hawera. will regret to hear that a cable has been received announcing the death of Mrs. Bartlett, which occurred on June 11 from heart failure after an attack of influenza. Mrs. Bartlett is a sister of Mrs. J. Linn, Normanbv.— Star.

Prior to commencing the business at the annual meeting of the National Dairy Association the president (Mr. A. Morton) referred to the death of the late Mr. W. D. Powdrell. Mr. Morton said Mr. Powdrell had always taken a very active and keen interest in the affairs of the association; he was at all times a keen fighter and would never admit that he- was beaten, while he was always willing to do his utmost in the interests of those for whom he was working. The late Mr. Powdrell was a member of the executive, chairman of one of the largest dairy factories in New Zealand and was actively associated with other branches of the industry, and they had much to be thankful for in having had the services of men like Mr. Powdrell working in the best interests of the Dominion. 'He then moved that the association place on record its appreciation of the many services rendered by the late Mr. Powdrell to the association and to the dairying industry and tender its sympathies to his relatives. This was carried in silence.

The funeral took place yesterday of Mrs. W. H. Wood, one of the old settlers of New Plymouth, whose death occurred on Monday after a long illness. The late Mrs. Wood, who was 84 years of age, came to New Plymouth with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Oliver, by the Amelia Thompson, which left Plymouth on March 25, 1841, and arrived in .New Plymouth on September 3, 1841. A few years later the family removed from town to the Carrington Road, just beyond the present junction witli the Tarahua Road. When the Maori war broke out the family were compelled to return to town and later on their homestead was burned by the Maoris. Miss Oliver was one of the women who declined to go to Nelson when most of the women were sent there for smety. She elected to remain here throughout those Troublous and dangerous times. In 18(T.) she married Mr. William Hanson Wood and she has resided in New Plymouth ever since. She had a family of two sons (one surviving) anl two daughters and she adopted another daughter. She leaves also sixteen grandchildren and one grandchild, and is survived by two brothers, Messrs. Frank and Charles Oliver, both of whom went through the Maori wars.

A feature of Tuesday’s conference of the National Dairy Association was the presentation to the retiring secretary, Mr. J. G. Harkness, who has held the position for 18 years. Previous to his becoming secretary, Mr. Harkness was for several years the president of the association. In eulogising Mr. Harkness’ services, the president (Mr. A. Morton) said that he had been connected with the Dairy Association as far back as he could remember. He had served the association very faithfully, and very well indeed. At all times he had done his utmost to further the industry, and had been associated with every progressive movement. Mr. Harkness would carry with him into his retirement the best wishes of every member of the association. The chairman concluded by handing to Mr. Harkness an illuminated address, to be followed by a cheque for a substantial amount. In returning thanks, Mr. Harkness feelingly acknowledged the debt of gratitude tie owed to his wife. Much that he had been able to accomplish in public life had been due to the sacrifices that Mrs. Harkness had ever be£n prepared to make. (Applause.) Mr. Harkness went on to briefly trace the history of the association, pointing to its great growth and progress. Incidentally, when he took office in 1903 the association had 17 members. To-day there were 281. The association's capital had grown since then from £Bl to £32,05'4, and the value of the. dairy produce exported from the Dominion from £1,450,000 to £12,700,000.