PERSONAL MATTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18, 23 January 1911, Page 7

PERSONAL MATTERS.

Prince Leopold of Battenburg, second eon of Princess Beatrice, arrived at Auckland by the steamer Victoria, from Sydney, on Sunday, and left for Wellington by last night's express, the Governor's carriage being attached to the train. Prince Leopold will be met here by the Governor. Proceeding to Christchurch by steamer the same night, he will (according to a Press Association telegram from Auckland) be met by Sir James and Lady Mills. Sir James forms one of a party that will tour New Zealand with the Prince from South to North, the tour extending over a period of three weeks. Prince Leopold will then proceed from Auckland to Japan. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., has returned from a holiday visit to Napier. Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., returned on Saturday afternoon from a trip to Auckland and Rotorua. Mrs. G. M. Thomson., wife of the member for Dunedin North, is dead, states a Press Association telegram from Dunedin. The death occurred at Melbourne. Mrs Witchell (widow of the late Mr Lemuel Witehell). an old resident of Flaxton, who arrived in 1858, by the ship Zealandia, died there on Friday (reports the Christchurch Press), at the advanced age of 92 years. A Press Association message from ■Dunedin states that Mr. J. H- Chapman, headmaster of the Arthur-street School, Dunedin, and one time prominent in Rugby football, is dead. Mr Alexander Fletcher, a very old and respected resident of Lyttelton, died on Friday morning, at his residence, Old Governor's Bay road, West Lyttelton. The deceased, who was 75 years of age, ,was a native of Glencoe, Argyllshire, Scotland, and came out to the colonies ■about 40 years ago. For some time he traded constantly between New Zealand and Australia in the sailing ships, but afterwards settled ashore and followed his occupation as a shipwright. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of four daughters and one son. The death is announced of Mr. J. IW. Fletcher, an old and well-known citizen of Wellington, at his residence at Oriental Bay. The late Mr. Fletcher came from Bowdon, Cheshire, near Manchester, where he was in business as a builder. As a member of the Manchester Liberal Club, he had the opportunity of making the acquaintance of the late Mr. Gladstone and Mr. John Bright. Mr. Fletcher was an old member of the Taranaki-street Wesleyan j Church. He leaves a widow and ten I children, also nine grandchildren. The death of Mr. Paul Morton; exSecretary of the Navy of the United States, which was reported in Saturday's cables, removes a prominent figure from Life Insurance circles in America. Deceased was, up to his death, president of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York, having been appointed to that position some few years ago as the result of the reorganisation following on . the public investigation of what was known as the "Life Insurance Scandals." Hyde, a former president, was deposed, and the appointment of Mr. Morton secured — largely through the influence of the millionaire Ryan. Incidentally, it was at the time of the same upheaval that ex-Governor Hughes of New York State — then prosecuting attorney against the insurance companies concerned — first came prominently before the public eye.