PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 74, 18 March 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The Governor, Lord Liverpool, passed through Stratford by the mail train last night, en route to Parihaka.

Air Henry Babington Smith (Labor M.P. for Northampton) has been elected chairman of the Pacific Cable Board, states a London cablegram.

Air G. AY. Taylor, ex-Alayor of Eltham, has been elected chairman of the Hawera Hospital and Charitable: Aid Board. Air Tayler has been for about 15 or 16 years a member of the Board.

Air Hayward, of Hayward’s Pictures, is in town to-day on business in connection with the picture combination and Aladame Bernard, of His Alajesty’s Pictures.

The Prime Alinister stated that he was feeling “very lit,” though he had not yet been given a clean bill of health by his physician. This remark was made while at Nelson on Saturday.

The Hon. AY. Pember Reeves, who has been prominent in the Hellenic agitation, is at present on a visit to Greece (writes a Loudon correspondent under date February 6th). The University of Athens has conferred upon him a Doctorate.

The Hon. W. H. Herries, Alinister for Railways and. Native Affairs, accompanied by Air L. E. Johnson, private secretary, and Air T. AA r . Fisher Under-secretary for Native Affairs) were present at the Opunake Club’s race meeting yesterday. The Minister attends the Alaori Conference at Parihaka to-day, and returns to Wellington to-morrow.

The golden wedding of Air and Airs A [organ Richards, the parents of

“John Oliver Hobbes,” was celebrated at a dinner at the Hotel Cecil (London), last month, when there were present, among others, the American Ambassador (Dr. Page), Lord Curzon, Lady de Bathe, and Mr and Mrs Lewis Hind. Sir George Riddell, who presided, read a telegram from the Queen, saying, “Pray accept my best wishes for your golden wedding day.” ;

An interesting old lady died recently at Bexhill, England, in the person of Mrs Mary France Anstruther. She was the daughter of the Right Hon. Janies Alexander Stewart Mackenzie, and was born in Ross-shire. When her father went out to Ceylon as Governor, in 1838, she accompanied him, and soon after was married to Philip Anstruther, Colonial Secretary of the island. Mr Anstruther died in May, 1863, and Mrs Anstruther had been a widow for 51 years. Her father was an intimate friend of Sir Walter Scott, and she remembered that as a child she often sat on the novelist’s knee. Mrs Anstruther was presented at the first Court held by Queen Victoria after her accession, and was probably the last survivor of that ceremony A very pretty wedding took place at the residence of Mr Blackstock, V\ aingongoro Road, Cardiff, on Tuesday, when Mr S. Thompson was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Grace Milson. The bride, who was given away by her cousin (Mr Blackstock) was attired in a beautiful white silk dress, with the customary veil and orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were Miss Wilson (pale blue sdk), and Miss L. Solo (pink), and “Peggy” Blackstock (white) as flowergirl. Mr Irving-Blackstock acted as groomsman, and Mr Barney McSweeny was best man. The bridegroom’s pro- , sent to the bride was a handsome wrist watch; to the bridesmaids, gold brooches; and to Miss Wilson (sister of the bride), a greenstone pendant. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J. Pattison, of Stratford. The health of tiie bride and bridegroom was proposed by Rev. Pattison, and responded to by the bridegroom. “The bridesmaids” was proposed by Mr McSweeny, and replied to by Mr IrvingBlackstock. The presents, which were numerous, wore useful and costly. The Oddfellows’ Lodge, M.F., was well represented, both Mr and Mrs Thompson being members of the Order. The bride’s shower bouquet was made by Mrs Crofts, and that of the brides- A maids by Miss L. Sole. *