PERSONAL ITEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The London correspondent of the Sydney Sun announces the engagement of Mr OliA-er BaldAA'in, son of the last ConservntiA’e Prime Minister, to Miss MacDonald, second daughter of the Labour Prime Minister. Captain Rolls, Avho has had command of tne Niagara for 10 years, retires Avhen he reaches Sydney this week after 48 years’ service at.sea. A record as a church lay reader is possessed, oy Mr W. H.' Sandle, of Stratford, Westland. It is estimated (says aii exchange) that he has conducted over 400 cervices at Kumara, and though beyond four-score years lie still journeys our in his capacity of lay reader. Recently he avhs honoured at a civic gathering. In its report of the municipal concert at Auckland on Saturday evening the Auckland Star says:-—Chopin’s “Ballade in G Minor” and Liszt’s tenth j “Rhapsody” were given Avith marked I success by Miss Maida Hooker. Avho displayed a nice tone in cantabile work, and good bravura in the vigorous passages. After each.soio the talented pianist was very warmly encored. At the age of 96 years, the death took place in Wellington of Mrs Katherine Louie Cooper, avhloav of the late Mr George Frederick Cooper, of Greymouth. Mr s Cooper came to the colonies at the age of 19 years, arriA'ing first at Adelaide (South Australia). SeA’en years later her marriage took place, and Avith her husband she sailed for NeAv Zealand in the Coromandel, arriving in Dunedin. She Avas among the first of those who traA-elled o\*evland to the West Coast, AA’here she settled in Greymouth. It was there, that the calamity of blindness fell upon her husband, and for 32 years he bore that, affliction. His death took place 35 years ago. Mr William Jiarr- rf on Gibson, one of the oldest residents of Wanganui, and a man of genial personality, Avho had a large circle of friends, passed. aAvay at the hospital at an early hour on Sunday ’morning at the age of 74 years (the Chronicle reports). Deceased Avas a native of Plymouth, Devonshire, and came to NeAv Zealand Avith his parents AA'hen very young. His father the late Mr Harrison Gibson, Avas engaged in farming pursuits, and at one time OAvned a large area of land at Aramoho, and also in Manners street, Wellington. The late Mr Gibson had a great lo\ T e for horses, and for some years was the owner of Avell-knoAvn racehorses of that day, which he raced at meetings along the->£oast. These included the hurdler Kairoa, also Otawa and TeAvhetumarama. Deceased also engaged in farming pursuits at Waitotara, and also followed.the occupation of a stock dealer. In fact, he Avas one of the largest, dealers operating along the coast in those days, and on A'arious occasions extended his operations to the Ernst Coast. In 1895 he took o\ r er control of the old bus service between Wanganui and Aramoho, which line been started two years preA'iously. The plant, consisted of 18 horses and three large busses, and the ser\ r ice Avas run half-hourly. With, the adA'ent of the trams there Avas no further need for this service. In later years Mr Gibson led more or le3S a retired life, and .devoted lvis attention to a cattle brand, “Brandit,” and also a dehorning material. He married a daughter of the late Mr J. Walker. She predeceased him 19 years. An adult family of four daughters and three sons are left to mourn their loss.