PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 56, 15 June 1910, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A London cable states that the Times, the Chronicle and many other London newspapers publish appreciative notices of the late iSir Kyffin Thomas, who recently died in Adelaide. Colonel Davies, C.8., who is undergoing a course of military training in England, is, states Mr. R. McNab, obtaining unusually good opportunities for securing a complete idea of every branch of military service and military administrativework. Mr. McAah adds that military officers had informed him that such facilities had never 'before been given toany military officer. The many friends of Mr. Fred Stephens will be pleased to hear that he is progressing favorably at the Hospital. Kor seme tune past he had been suffering a great deal, and the doctor decided he would have to undergo an operationAt it is unlikely that Mr. Stephens will bo a'ble to resume his duties for some considerable time after he leaves the'hospital, it has been decided to tender him a benefit on the 28th of this month. In his capacity as caretaker of the Theatre Mr. Stephens has been ot invaluable assistance to all local amateur organisations for the past nine years, and the committee arranging the benefit has had innumerable oners of assistance from all those who have profited by ' Fred's" help in the past. An attractive programme has been arranged, the particulars of which will appear later.

Old identities and later arrivals the district alike will learn with deepest regret of the death of Mrs. William Cottier, relict of the late Mr. WiJliim Cottier, than whom there were few more popular residents of Taranaki in hie day. The deceased lady was a daughter of the late Mr. Grylls, and a sister of Messrs. John Grylls, of New Plymouth, and Mt. R. Grylls, of Eltham. Mrs. Tom Leedon, formerly of Warea, Mrs. R. Jury, Mrs. Jas. Loveridge and Mrs. Walter Black (of Waitara) are sistere. lit Taranaki's early days Mr. and Mrs. Cottier kept the old Taranaki Hotel, and afterwards the "Hole-in-the-Wall," * popular hostelry where the Melbourne Clothing Co.'s promises now stand. It was during his tenancy that this hotel was burned, and some of the members of the family had very narrow escapes. After a few years tliey entered into possession of the Masonic Hotel, and from there they purchased the Criterion Hotel, which the late Mr. James Paul had just erected on the site of the old Ship Hotel, where "Dad" and Mrs. Cottier remained for many years as the most popular host and hostess in the province. Since the death of her husband' a few years ago Mrs. Cottier maae a trip to England. Of late she has been' in failing health, and she passed away at an early hour yesterday morning. She leaves a family of eight—Messrs. Harry Cottier (Inglewood), Sidney. Charles and Richard Cottier (Xew Plymonth), Mesdames jißtean) (Mf>tueka). Rankin (Wanganui), Mitchell (Auckland) and Ivebble (New Plymouth).