PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 98, 21 January 1924, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

It is expected that the ActingPrime Minister (Sir Francis Bell) and the Hons. J. G. Coates, C. J. Parr, G. J. Anderson, and R. F. Bollard, will meet the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) on his arrival at Auckland on Thursday. \

The death is announced by a Press Association cable message Irpiu Sydney of Mr. L. S. Donaldson, a former Stipendiary Magistrate. lie was a, son of the first Premier of New South Wales, and father of Mr. G. L. Donaldson, of Christchurch. The late Mr. Charles F. Fox, a Maori War veteran, who passed away at his residence, Armidale Street, I’ctone, cn Saturday afternoon, was born in Bedford, England, in 1847, and was until a few months ago very active, often walking to Wellington and back. He was employed in the New Zealand Railways for a number of years, but previous to that’ resided at Kaikonra. He is survived by a widow and fourteen children, Mr. Charles Brown Fox, of New Plymouth, and also Mr. Fred Cooper Fox, of the same town. Ml. John Blair Fox, who served with tho New Zealand forces in South Africa, and is now resident at Boston, U.S.A. Messrs. William Major Gordon Fox, of Wellington, and James Mclntyre Fox, of Nelson Harbour Board, who both served in tho Great War. The daughters are : Mesdames Jamas MclntyrJ/ of Wellington, and formerly of Levin, J. E. Widdop, of Kelburn, W. Dalv. of I'etone, Gordon Stephen oi Heretaunga, G. Beckett, of Island Bav, G. J. Wilbv, of Carterton, and H. j. Durney, of Wellington, and Miss O. Fox, of Wellington. Tho late Mr. Fox took n keen interest in the Maori War Veterans’ Association, and members are invited to attend his funeral, which takes place this afternoon the deceased served under Captain Bucklev and Major M. Tempsky, and was present at several engagements. Ino funeral will reach Karori cemetery at 2.45 this afternoon.

The doyen of Wellington commercial travellers, Mr. William Henry Fordham) died at his residence, Rongotai Terrace, .yesterday morning, at the ago of SO years The late Mr. Fordham was born in London, and when seven years of ago came out to Victoria’ with his parents, at a time when the whole world was rashing to the gold diggings at Bendigo and Ballarat. When 21 years of age he, in turn, was attracted to the gold rush at Hokitika, but after two years on the West Coast he went to Napier, and became a Government official, under Mr. Edward Catchpool, who was then Government representative there, and among other duties lie was concerned in the taking of the first rural census of Hawke’s Bay. In 1867 he came to ’Wellington anil entered into business in partnership with the late Air. Thomas Pilcher as grain and produce merchants. Later he°entered the service of Johnston and Co., and after a few years he transferred to the firm of Messrs. AA . and G. Turnbull, who he represented on the road for a term of 46 years. When that firm dissolved he went over to the Empire Manufacturing Company, covering the greater part of the North Island. In July last he sustained an attack of influenza, since when 'his health gradually failed. In 1868 ho married Miss Thomas, of Napier, and leaves two sons and two daughters. Messrs. C. E. and A. G. Fordham. and Mesdames A. G. East, of Wellington, and O. C. .Cox, of Christchurch. The funeral will leaye Wilson’s mortuary chapel, in Willis.-Street, at 1 p.m. to-day. Sir Cecil Hunter Rod well, the Governor of Fiji, sailed for London from Suva in the on Saturday. A complimentary dinner was tendered him on Friday evening by colonists. The death of Mr. Peter Speedy, of Belmont, Lower Hutt, removes yet another of the early settlers of the Dominion. The son of the late Air. David Speedy, an arrival in 1840 by the Lord William Bentinek, Air. Peter Speedy was born near Pipitea Pa in 1841, removing, with his parents, to Belmont nearly three years later. Ihe trouble with the natives caused a withdrawal of the family to the protection of the Hutt stockade. Educational facilities were few, but Air. Speedy was tutored by the Rev. a byterian minister, at the Hutt. Hie late Air. Speedy aided in the clearing of the land, ploughing and sowing with wheat. He married, in 1868, a daughter of the late William Scott Milne, himself a well-known early settler living at Taita. Air. Speedy turned Ids attention to sheepfarming, and aho became a member of the local volunteers in view of the trouble brewing among the natives. He is survived by bis widow and ten children Airs. J.. McTvor (Featherston), Mrs. J. M. AlcLeod (Palmerston North), Airs. J. D. Skinner (Feildir.g). Airs. V I'arqiihar (Palmerston North). Mrs. J. Keir (Sei - fnnn) Airs. F. Mason Belmont), Miss H. Speedy, Air. D Speedy QVhnkaronga), and M. A. Speedy. There are nine grand-children and three great-grand-children. Dr. Colin Anderson, who has been appointed radiologist to the Dunedin Hospital, is expected to arrive from England this month. Air G S. Whiteside, C.E., of Wanganui, has been appointed engineer to the newly-formed Alarlborough County Council. Mr. C. Collins, Wellington city treasurer, is at present on a visit .0 Wanganui. A party of English tourists who made the trip down the Wanganui River last week included Sir John Randles and Lady Randles, Dr. K. Crawford, of Keswick, and Commander Butcher, R.N., and Mro. Butcher