PERSONAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9640, 4 November 1909, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr A. Simmonds, of Featherston, who has been on an extended holiday trip to England, returned home by the lonic. Mrs Cdnnell, who has been relieving teacher at the Grey town School, has left to take up another appointment, and has been succeeded by Miss Myers, of Wellington. Miss Gertie Mills, daughter of Sir Jas. Milts, who has spent the pa.t five years in England, returned to New Zealand by the Shaw-Savill steamer, lonic. Mr F. Hockly, who was the Opposition candidate for the Rangitikei seat, wiil be honoured with a banquet and presentation at Tiriraukawa on November 12th, in addition to the banquet at Hunterville, to be held on November 15th. Mr Philip Topliss, an old Nelson settler, died on Sunday. He had been a resident of that town for about thirty-five years, being on the staff of Messrs Fell'-and Atkinson, solicitors. Mr Toplies was connected with H. Battery for thirty-two years He was Provincial Grand Master of the local Oddfellows, and for some time secretary of the Nelson Cricket Association. He leaves a widow and grown-up family. A Press Association message from Auckland states that Mr anl Mrs Robert Bilkey, who are 90 and 93 years of age, respectively, celebrated the 70th anniversary of their wedding at Buckland on Tuesday last. There were 500 guests present, the Rev. F. Dobscn presiding. Many congratulatory telegrams were received, including one from the Prime Minister.

There died at the Upper Hutt on Friday night a very old settler in the person of Mrs George Brown, sen., aged 88. She sailed from London in the ship New Era, and landed in Wellington in March, 1855; she then went to Porirua, where she resided for 18 months, and from tnen till her death she lived at Upper Hutt. The New Era was a new snip, that being her first trip out, and on the return voyage she wad lost. Mrs George Brown was highly throughout the Hutt and Porirua district. She leaves four sons, thirty grand children and eight great grand children to mourn their loss.