WIFE OF NEW PEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 10

WIFE OF NEW PEER.

"BOTH PLEASED AND PROUD" LORD RUTHERFORD'S DECISION. NAME RETAINED .AS TITLE. [by tki.egnaph. —own correspondent.] CIIRISTCJIURCII, Friday. "As a New Zeniander 1 nm both pleased and proud," said Lady Rutherford this morning, when speaking of the honour <hat has been bestowed upon Iter husband, Lord Rutherford. "Tho first indication I had of it was when my mother pointed it out to me in the newspaper, but soon afterward a cablegram arrived." In Iho cablegram the famous scientist stated his intention of retaining his own name as a title. Tt will therefore be as Lord Rutherford that New Zealand will recognise its famous son. Tho cablegram was despatched from Wales, where Lord Rutherford is at present on a holiday.

"Strangely enough," said Lady Rutherford, "we were just selling out for a holiday about six years ago when ho received tho news that ho had been awarded the Order of Merit. I remember that for days wo were snowed under the telegrams that followed us wherever we went." Lady Rutherford is already experiencing a repetition of that occasion of six years ago. The first telegram that arrived this morning was from Lord Wudisloe, who is a very old friend of Lord Rutherford. Ladv Rutherford is, both touched and pleased at the reception tho announcement has had. "1 think the more so," she said, "because my husband is in himself a simple man. Honours mean nothing to him, and his work everything. I am all the more glad because 1 find that his own people appreciate this quality in him."

As she had intended, Lady Rutlierford will remain in Christohurch until the end of February, when she will sail via Panama for England, meeting her husband m Cambridge, where they will take up their residence again in their home, Newnham Cottage. Lord and Lady Rutherford have no sons, and their only daughter, Mrs. Eileen Fowler, of Cambridge, died only <i week ago. She leaves a family of two sons and two daughters. There will be many who will be glad to think that the, news has come at this time to lighten a period of sorrow. GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S MESSAGE. " NEW ZEALAND DELIGHTED." [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday. The following cablegram has been sent by the Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloe, to Lord Rutherford, on the occasion of the hitter's elevation to tho peerage: — "Heartiest, congratulations on your wellmerited honour. New Zealand is delighted at this recognition of her distinguished son." HEREDITARY TITLES. PEER AND TWO BARONETS.

Tito elevation of Sir Ernest Rutherford, the eminent scientist, to the peerage is of exceptional interest, as lie is the first New Zealander to he created a peer. Only two other New Zealanders have received hereditary titles, the late Sir Charles Clifford, whose baronetcy was rrpated in 1887, and the late Sir Joseph Ward, who became a baronet in 1911. Sir Charles Clifford was born in 1813 and was the eldest son of George T,ambelh Clifford, fifth son of the second son of the third Baron Clifford of Child - leigh. lie came to New Zealand in 1845 and started the colony's first sheep station in the Wairarnpa district, lie also tiad a run at Flaxbourne. Marlltorough, in partnership with Sir (then Mr.) Frederick Weld, who was Premier in 3C6--1 For a brief period Sir Charles returned to Encland and with Edward Gibbon Wakefield ho had much to do with obtaining self-government for New Zealand In 1854 he was elected to represent the City of Wellington in Ne\y Zealand's firstParliament and was chosen its first Speaker. lie was knighted four years later and in 1887 became a baronet,. lie died in England in February, 1893.

The second baronet, the late Sir George Clifford, a prominent sportsman and for many years president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, (bed on April 16. 1030. The litlu passed to his eldest son. Sir Charles Clifford.

The many public achievements of Sir Joseph Ward are widely known. In 1901 he was created a K.C.M.G. in recognition of the, nart ho played in the introduction of penny postage. Ton years later, on the. coronation of King George V., in June, 1911, be was made a baronet, and on New Year's Day, 1930, he became a G.C.M.G. On his death on July 8 last his eldest son, Mr. Cyril Ward, succeeded to the title.

Lord Rutherford will not bo the first New Zealaruler entitled to sit in the House of Lords, as the fourth Baron Strathspey, who was born in Oamaru in 1879, succeeded his brother, the eleventh Earl of Seafield, in 1915. Lord Strathspey, who is the second son of the tenth Earl of Seafield was educated at Wailaki High School and St John's College. In 1905 he married Miss Alice Louisa HardyJohnstone, of Christchnrch, and they have one son and one daughter. Lord Strathspey solved in tho New Zealand Civil Service from 1906 to 1913, and at one time held a commission in the Naval Artillery Volunteers in tho Dominion. Ho now resides in Castle Grant, Morayshire. Scotland.