PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 August 1924, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

It is stated (says a London cable) that Viscount Grey is retiring from the Liberal leadership in the House of Lords owing to personal reasons. A very successful pianoforte recital was given by Miss Maida. Hooker at Timaru last evening. There was a large audience and triple and double encores were the order of the evening. Dr. F. W. Lumsden, who has been stationed .at the King George Hospital, Bothnia for the last five years, has been transferred to Hanmer.

The death took place at Waiorongomai (Featherston) on Friday night of Mrs. Hannah Matthews, at the age of 78 years. Although owing to illhealth Mrs. Matthews had led in later years a very retired life, she had made a wide circle of friends who will greatly regret her death. Besides her husband, a family of four sons and four daughters survive her.

At the advanced age of 85 years a very, old resident oA Tfamakt, (Mrs. Elizabeth Smales, died on August 15. She was the widow of the late Rev. Gideon Smales, one of the early residents of Auckland. For very many years Mrs. Smales resided at Hampton Park, East Taipaki, where her death took place. The appointment of Nurse L. A. MacDonald, at present stationed at Mokau, to the position of matron at the Opunake Cottage Hospital, was yesterday confirmed at the meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. Nurse Macdonald will take up her duties at Opunake on September 1,

The death of Mr. Lewis Earp, of New Plymouth, took place yesterday after a long illness. The late Mr. Earp, who was 41 years of age, was a very well-known resident of New Plymouth, having lived there nearly all his life. Mr. Earp was unmarried, and leaves two sisters, Mrs. R. C Hopkins (Auckland) and Miss L. Earp (New Plymouth).

At the annual meeting of the Alton Dairy Company a hearty vote of appreciation was passed to Mr T. Foreman for his past services to the company. In moving the motion, Mr. J. Gibbs said he had hjid the privilege of sitting with Mr. Foreman on the Kakaraniea board of directors and on the Alton directorate, hnd knew the good services he had rendered. He deserved hearty thanks for the work done while he had been connected with Alton.

A vote of thanks was passed to the county chairman at the Alton annual meeting yesterday, on the motion of Mr. Muggeridge. He said it was principally due to Mr. J.. Gibbs that the roads were in such great order. The chairman, in acknowledging the compliment, said there was much important work ahead, and when he Tiad to give up his seat on the council he hoped that Alton would be prepared to bring forward the best men possible, so that the district might be well and worthily represented. The death took place in her 93rd year of Mrs. Emma Rowsell at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. W. Matthews, at Mgunu. The late Mrs. Rowsell arrived in New Zealand with her husband, the late Mr. W. Rowsell, in the early ’sixties. They were among the pioneer settlers of Maungaturoto. Mr. Rowsell subsequently took up mail contracting, and later the Maungaturoto post office was in their charge. Mrs Rowswell held the position of postmistress for 44 yeays, and during , that period earned the esteem and respect of all the residents of the district. She relinquished the position 12 years ago. In her younger days Mrs. Rowsell, an accomplished elocutionist, took part at concerts. Her father was a member of the London Countv Council, and a document in possession of the family records that 112 years ago he was granted the freedom of the city. Mrs. Rowsell leaves a son, Mr. Walter Rowsell. of Buekland, and two daughters,, Mrs. Matthews and Miss Rowsell, both of Maunu.

The death occurred at Wellington of Mr. It. G. Poulton, formerly Registrar of Births. Deaths, and Marriages, and Electoral Officer in Christchurch. The late Mr. Poulton, who was forty years of age, was the second son of Mr. G. H. R. G. Poulton, of Wellington, and the only brother of Mr. E. N. G. Poulton, at one time of Press circles of Wellington and Auckland, and for many years a Ministerial secretary. Born in Wellington, the deceased was on the staff of the New Zealand Mail, and. before his appoinment to the Reg-istrar-General’s Department in Wellington was a frequent contributor of black-and-white sketches to periodicals in New Zealand and Australia. On Christinas Eve last, just prior to his appointment as Registrar* of Births, Deaths, and Marriages at Wellington, the late Mr. Poulton underwent an operation, and was progressing favourably untij complications set in a few days ago, from which he succumbed. Mr. John Gillespie, a well-known resident of GillespiVs line, died on Thursday at the age of 73 years. Born at Pleon, Scotland, he came to New Zealand as a lad 57 years ago, and for a time resided at Remvicktown, Marlborough. Afterwards he went to the Turon goldfield, in New South Wales, but later returned to New Zealand, and remained at Renwiclctown contracting until 1876. He then joined the police force, being for a time in charge of the Hutt district, and later at Palmerston North, Eeilding, Waitara, White Cliffs, Normanby, Manaia, Foxton, and Temuka. In 1910 he severed his connection with the force, and commenced farming upon a block of land which he had purchased in 1881. He is survived by a family of six sons, four of whom saw service in the Great War, and four daughters. His wife passed away eleven weeks ago.