PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 5, 4 December 1928, Page 7

PERSONAL

Mr F. W. Manton was re-elected chairman of the WeUington Automobile Club at its meeting last night. Mr A. L. Warburton was appointed vicepresident of the executive. Resolutions of sympathy were passed this morning by the Manawatu and Vest Coast A. and P. Association with Messrs 0. Monrad and J. Bett in their illness, and with the caretaker, Mr Parker, who met with an accident during alterations to the office, wishes being expressed for their speedy recovery. A London cable message announces the death of Mr Arthur Wentworth Gore, the former tennis champion, aged 00 years. Mr Gore was captain of the first international lawn tennis team England versus America, in 1900. He was lawn tennis singles champion of England in 1901, 1908 and 1909, and doubles champion in 1909. Mr It. Hogg, of the locomotive staff nt the Palmerston North railway station, who was compelled to undergo a serious operation last week, is, his many friends will be pleased to learn, making good progress towards recovery. He will, however, have to remain in the hospital for some weeks and spend at least a month of convalescence after leaving the institution. Mr John Alexander Wilson, a wellknown civil engineer, who died >at Auckland last week, aged 72 years, entered the Public Works Department as a cadet when 18 years of age, being first stationed at Wellington. Eventually, he was promoted from the position of resident engineer at Wellington to that of district engineer at Auckland, retiring 15 years ago, after 40 years’ service. For about five years Mr Wilson transferred from the Public Works Department to act as engineer to the Westport Harbour Board. During that period he supervised the construction of harbour works there, working to the plans of Sir John Coode. He was identified with the construction of the Midland Railway, between Christchurch and the West Coast, and also with the North Island Main Trunk line, laying out “the viaducts” and the “spiral.” The death occurred suddenly, yesterday, of a well-known resident of the district in the person of Mr James Smith Fletcher, of Terraco End. The deceased gentleman, who was 63 years of age, came to the Dominion from his birthplace in Scotland between thirty and forty years ago later settling in Palmerston North. For many years he was the proprietor of the Cafe do Paris Hotel and subsequently acquired the Mangaweka Hotel. After his retirement he came to Palmerston North to reside. Last year Mr Fletcher visited the land of his birth and while there purchased a handsome shield which he donated to the Terrace End Bowling Club, of which body he was an enthusiastic member. Previously, he had been a member of the Palmerston North Club. The trophy, which is for inter-club competition, was played for for the first time on Saturday and Mr Fletcher watched the game, afterwards presenting the trophy to the winning team. The late Mr Fletcher is survived by a widow, his second wife, and an only son, James, at present on the engineering staff of a liner. At the great age of 104 years Mr William Darragh, eenr., Tauranga’s oldest resident, died on Saturday night. The late Mr Darragh was one of the best known and respected residents of the district. He wag an early settler at Katikati, and later removed to Tauranga, buying a farm just outside the town, where he resided with his son up to the time of his death. Mr Darragh was never quite sure of his actual birthday, but he always used to celebrate it on Easter Sunday. A few years ago he injured a leg while ploughing on his farm and this prevented him from getting about without assistance; except for this he retained all his faculties. His memory was excellent r and he would relate with fusto many amusing incidents which appened to him on his way to New Zealand from England in a sailing ship when he was a young pian. His three sons, Messrs William, Samuel and James Darragh all reside in the Tauranga district. His wife died many years ago. Mr Darragh was a staunch supporter of the Reform Party, and at the by-election when Mr C. E. Macmillan was first elected to represent Tauranga the late Prime Minister, Mr Massey, insisted on Mr Darragh beinj the first man to record his vote in Tauranga, and personally took him to the foil.