PERSONAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9608, 30 September 1909, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr A. D. McLeod has been elected ! chief of the Maryborough Caledonian Society. Mr and Mrs Wyvera of Auckland, are at present on a visit to Masterton. The Ven. Archdeacon Harper, of St. Mary's Timaru, is leaving on a holiday trip to the Old Country, towards the end of the year. Colonel Knight, head officer of the Salvation Army for the North Island, will arrive in Masterton on Saturday next, when special services will be held during his stay here.

Tho Hon. J. Ti Paul, M.LC , Dunedin, has received word that Mr Will Crooks, M.P , will arrive in Auckland on 'November 16th, but will not visit the South Island. The death occurred at Onehunga un Tuesday morning of the Rev. W. J. Watkins, of the Methodist ministry, at the age of seventy. He was in charge of circuits in varioun par's of New Zealand between 1857 and 1894, and for a time was principal of Wesley College, Auckland. For the past fifteen years th«- deceased had lived in retirement at Onehunga.

Quite a number of Wairarapa people are in England this year, pays the London correspondent of the Auckland "Hcald." Mr and Mrs Cock burn-Hood, of Masterton, are now in Scotland, staying with Mr Handyside, who has a shooting box there. Mr and Mrs J. F. Maunsell are on a motor tour in Scotland. Mr F. G. Maunsell is leaving London for Ireland on November 4th. He will join at Port Said one of the outgoing steamers to Australia, subsequent to a Continental tour. Mr and Mrs Mawley, of M&sterton, are in Cumberland.

An unsuual event will take place in the Pukekohe district, Auckland, next month, when Mr and Mrs Robert Bilkey will celebrate the 70th anniversary of their wedding. Mr and Mrs Bilkey were married in Cornwall, on October 31st. 1839, and came to New Zealand in the ship Bombay in 1865. They remained in Onehunga until 1880, when they removed to Pukekohe, where they have s'nce resided. The aged couple are both enjoying splendid health. Mr Bilkey is 90 years of age, and Mrs Bilkey is 93. , Lieutenant-Colonel E W. Chaytor j and his family are returning to New Zealand by the Tainui, which •is due to reach Wellington early 1 next week. It is nearly two years 'sinesLieutenant-Colonel Chaytor left ! the Dominion, and since that time he has travelled extensively in Europe, visiting all the famous battle field there, and also attending the staff colleges at Home. He was one of the officers of the Second Con tingent, and before he left for Europe was a staff officer of the New Zealand Commandant.

The circumstances connected with the sudden death at Pretoria last months of Mr E A. Rees, solicitor (son of Mr W. J. Rees, of Gisborne) are disclosed in letters just to hand from youth Africa Not feeling well one afternoon he went into a local pharmacy and asked for a black draught, adding that he wanted a strong one. The chemist who occupied the shop was absent, but his assistant prepared a mixture, which Mr Rees swallowed. Mr Rees remarked that the taste did not seem as usual, but the assistant assured him that it was the proper mixture. Shortly afterwards Mr Rees took very ill, and, although two doctors did all that was possible for him he died | within an|hour and a half. The symptoms indicated that by some mistake an irritant poison had got into one of the bottles from which the draught wa-3 made up. The chemist's assistant was arrested, and the question of prosecuting him was under consideration by the Attorney-General when the mail left. Mr E. Welch, who has been captain of the Carlton Cricket Club since it was established in 1903, tendered his resignation of that office at the annual meeting of the Club last evening, owing to pressure of business. In moving that the resignation be accepted with regret Mr Hoar referred to the excellent work Mr Welch had done for the Club. It was largely due to his efforts that the Club was in the sound position that it was to-day. Mr Welch had spared neither time nor money in furthering the interests of the Club, and he moved that Mr Welch's services be recorded in the minutes. Other members spoke of Mr Welch's valuable work, and the motion was carried. Mr Welch, in returning thanks, said that though be would not take so active a part in the affairs of the Club as he had done in the past, he would still take a lively interest in their doings.