PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 288, 8 May 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL.

■Mr A. E. Sykes was prevented by a. sudden attack of influent from JeavJSte for Australia yesterday. He will leavfc on Thursday next.

The Chief Justice, Stout, with six members of the tfn'son Board, will arrive in Now Plymouth to-morrow niglit. i

The death occurred at Devonport on Sunday of Captain G. C. Best, at the of 73 years. He had been connected with maritime affairs in Auckland province for a period of almost half a century Captain Best first, came to Auckland as an officer of the ship Ida Zeigler, a favorite passenger vessel, which made many smart passages between London and Auckland. On his retirement from the seafaring life he settled in Auckland, and when the Thames was made a port , of entry he was appointed harbormaster. He remained at tne Thames for some years, and was afterwards appointed to Tauranga, and then to Russell. When Russell was closed as a port of entry. Captain Best came to Auckland and started business as a marine surveyor.. He was actively engaged in business until two months ago, when failing health compelled him to retire. He leaves a widow, two daughters, and three son% We have received a circular 1 letter from "C. Arthur Pearson," asking support in that gentleman's, campaign for ; cheapening ami amplifying the supdy of Braille literature for the blind. Eveiyone has heard of Mr. PeaTson, states a correspondent, as the phenomenally active energy behind the great publishing business of the house of that name. Most people know of him as haying built up an amazing enterprise. Well, Mr, Pearson, still a comparatively young man, a man at any rate, in the prime of life, has himself become afflictedUwith' almost total blindness. Few cSlfwHStaß" ces more tragic in their operation can be imagined than this of a man so brini- | fill of en»rgy stilled and set aside by the I loss of sight. But he is not wholly set' i aside. On the contrary, his abilitv and capacity for work and powers of organ' isation are now centred upon the affliction of those who suffer like himself. Most of Mr. Pearson's energies nowadays are employed in the service of the blind, and_ chiefly, as befits his calling' in life, with provison for them of the solace of literature. He is devoted in , the upkeep and extension of the National Institute for the Blind, the specific objects of which are to print and distribute books and music in Braille, and to pro- i mote the higher education, employment and well-being of the blind, and to that end he had started his campaign.