Personal.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 January 1914, Page 5

Personal.

Mr S. Spence, accompanied by Mrs Spence, arrived back from Auckland by this morning’s mail train.

Dr. J. Renfrew White, a graduate of Otago University, lias been appointed house surgeon at the Royal National Orthopoedic Hospital, London.

Madame Melba will return to Australasia, probably in April (states a Sydney cablegram). After resting for a few months, she may give concerts before resuming her engagements at Covent Garden, London.

Mr J. Drysdale Brown, who is included in Victoria’s new Cabinet as Minister for Mines, Forests and Health, is a brother of Mr J. Vigor Brown, M.P. for Napier.

Sir James Mills, K.C.M.G., will (it is understood in Dunedin), leave the Dominion by the R.M.S. Aorangi for San Francisco, en route for London, towards the end of February.

Mr W. Noye, who has been stationed in Stratford for some time as inspector of permanent way on the railway, is under orders to transfer to Christchurch.

Prince Henry’s allowance of pocket money is five shillings a week, and the Prince has been instructed that he may not increase this by the sale of his father’s and mother’s letters, for which there is always a demand among youthful autograph hunters at Eton.

The Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister for Railways and Native Affairs, left by the Rotorua express yesterday morning, for Tirau, where he opened the new post office yesterday afternoon (says a Press Association message from Auckland). After visiting Rotorua, the Minister will return to Auckland about the end of the week.

Mr John Lomas, who has retired from the position of Secretary for Labor, was presented by members of the Departement staff yesterday afternoon with a roll-top-desk and two armchairs, as a mark of esteem fsays a Press Association telegram from Wellington). The presentation was made by the Hon. F. H. D. Bell, the Minister for Labor (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) being unable to be present, through indisposition.

The remains of the late Mrs Duncan 'McDonald were interred at the Inglewood cemetery yesterday. The deceased lady was born at Shropshire, Wales, and went to Melbourne when a girl’ where she married Mr McDonald, who predeceased her by 24 years. From Australia Mr and Mrs McDonald came to New Zealand and resided on Durham Road, Inglewood, for a number of years, where her late husband met his death. It will be remembered by early settlers that the late Mr McDonald took the first contingent of Maori prisoners to W ellington during the Maori war. His widow later resided at. New Plymouth, Midhirst, and for the past twelve years in Stratford. She had been in failing health for a number of years. The deceased l leaves a grown up family of ten children (four sons .and six daughters), and an only sister, in Wales, to mourn their loss. The members of the family are Mr Alex McDonald (Waitara), Mr W. McDonald (Stratford), Mr Peter McDonald (Hawefci), Mr Alf. McDonald (Dannevirke), Mrs Valentine (Mokoia), Mrs Allen (Eltham), Mrs W. H. Kelly (Stratford), Mrs J. MeNicol (Dannevirke), Mrs C. Trask (Wanganui), and Mrs W. Cleaver (Hawera).

Mr D. Farrell, who died at Brookvale (Sydney) last week, as a hobby set himself the task over fifteen years ago of building with his own hands the big stone house to be seen at Brookvale, on the Pittwater road. Through the years he patiently carried on the novel task (says the “Sun”), .quarrying the stone, and doing everything possible for one man to do in connection with the building. Year by year the structure, which was always an object of interest to passers-by, slowly reared itself up, and within the last few weeks workmen have been engaged in giving the house its final touches. Mr Farrell thus died just as the fruition of his long and patient work was in sight.