PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1921, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A cable from Paris announces the death of M. Saint Saens, the famous composer. Chief-Detective P. McMahon, formerly stationed at Auckland, has been transferred to Ashburton, and leaves to-day to take charge of the Ashburton police district. Mr. J. E. Jenkinson, president of the Wellington Early Settlers’ Association, and Mrs. Jenkinson, are spending their holidays in New Plymouth. Mr. M. '- raser, chairman of the Taranaki Hosp - il Board, leaves for Wellington this morning to attend a special meeting of the Board of Health. The residents of Kaponga and surrounding districts will learn with regret that Rev. H. AV. Avery, Methodist minister, has acacepted an invitation to take charge of the Waitara circuit (writes our Kaponga correspondent). Both as a minister and as a citizen Mr. Avery will be greatly missed. His untiring energy, combined with devotion to his work, has given him a prominent place in the spiritual and social life of the district. Possibly Mr. Avery owes much of the success he has achieved among the young-people to the interest he has always taken in their games. T’he Waitara folk are to be congratulated in having a minister of the true, manly type to attend to their spiritual needs, while one can bit express the hope that Kaponga may be as fortunate in Mr. Avery's successor.

A colonist of nearly 70 years’ standing, Mr. Alexander Muir, died the other day at Mangere, in his 88th year. Mr. Muir, who was born near Glasgow, Scotland, arrived in New Zealand with his parents by the ship Duchess of Argyle, in 1842. His first work in New Zealand was at the copper mine on Kawau Island. After his. return to Auckland he was appointed manager of the Clanricarde Hotel, but three years later tngaged in farming for Messrs. Brown, Campbell and Co. Later he became a dealer in horses, and carried on the business until the end of the Maori war. Mr. Muir was very successful in all his enterpises. He was recognised as a good judge of horses and cattle, and acted in that capacity for many years at the agricultural and pastoral shows at Auckland and Waikato. Mr. Muir married Miss Elizabeth Blunt on July 28, 18G5. He is survived by Mrs. Muir and a family of sons and daughters. A tablet erected to the memory of the late Rev. J. A. Luxford was unveiled at the Sunday service in Pitt Street Methodist Church at Auckland by his widow. There was a large congregation. Colonel W. H. Parkes was amongst those present, also the Rev. W. E. Gillam, former vicar of St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, who was associated with Chaplain Luxford in hospital work during the war. The anthem “Crossing the Bar” was sung by the choir, and the Rev. P. N. Knight pronounced a eulogium upon the life and work of deceased, who was at one time minister at Pitt Street, and president of the Methodist Conference in 1&03. Mr. Luxford was a

chaplain in South Africa, and did excellent service during the recent great war. He was wounded at Chunuk Bahr during the Gallipoli campaign, and’ as a result lost a leg.