PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1920, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The death is announced in a telegram from Cliristchurch of Mr. Joshua Little, a well-known citizen of Cliristchurch, who was prominently connected with the canal movement. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Richmond, of "Brooklands", Midhirst, are leaving Sydney next month on a trip to London and the French Riveriera. They expect to be away for about a year. His Honor Sir John Salmond, who is to take the adjourned sitting of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth tomorrow, is expected to arrive by the mail train to-night. The death of Mrs. Robert Law is reported from Wanganui. The deceased lady was a very old resident of Wanganui, and was highly esteemed for her kindly qualities. Plunket Nurse F. Williams, of New Plymouth, has tendered her resignation owing to ill-health. At the. monthly meeting of the Society held yesterday the resignation was received with the greatest regret by members. Mr. R. D. Climie, wno for the past twelve months has been engineer to the Taranaki County Council, has resigned the position. At a special meeting of the council yesterday the resignation was accepted with regret and it was decided to appoint a foreman of works. The appointment of an expert in tar work was referred to the chairman to arrange, and the appointment of a consulting engineer was deforred until the next ordinary meeting of the council. Mr. K. S. AVilliams, the Government candidate for the Bay of Plenty seat, was one of four gentlemen wlio subscribed £IO,OOO each for the purchase of land for soldier-settlement purposes, the deed of gift stipulating that the interest derived from the capital investment of £40,000 should form a fund for the assistance of incapacitated men. Mr, Williams, in addition, has personally settled about a dozen returned men on the land, and arranged to finance them in their farming enterprises.

News of the death, at Hamilton, of Mrs. Campbell MacDiarmid, formerly Miss Olivo Graham, the youngest daughter of the late Mi'. W. A. Graham (Hamilton), and sister of Mrs. Buckleton will' come as a great shook to her many friends in New Plymouth, Mrs. MacDiarmid, who was only 30 years of age at the time of her death, and the mother of three little boys, was a general favourite wherever she lived. Her death, resulting from an attack of meningitis and influenza, was very sudden, aftor an illness lasting for little more than a week. To mark the occasion of the merging of Mr. Newton King's business into the company of Messrs. Newton King, Ltd., the principal and staff met at a social gathering in New Plymouth last evening. Members of the staff from the branches throughout Taranaki assembled to the number of about 180. Various toasts were honored, and the list was interspersed with musical items. During the evening a presentation was made, to Mr. King of a handsome writing desk, and a gift was made to Mrs. King of a motoring rug. Replying, Mr. King traced the various periods in the history of the business. Mr. C. J. Harper, a son of the late Bishop Harper, and cousin of Lord Jellicoe, died at Ashburton on Monday last week, at the age of 83 years. Deceased was one of the early settlers of Canterbury, and a splendid type of colonist. He was born in Eton, Buckinghamshire. He was educated at Hossal Hall, and at the Royal Agricultural College, Cireoncester, Gloucester. In 18f>u he arrived at Auckland by the ship Duke of Portland, in which' Bishops Selwyn and Patterson were also passengers. Mr. Harper was at St. John's College, Auckland, for a time under Bishop Selwyn, hut two years later, on the arrival in New Zealand of his people, he went South to Canterbury, and took up the Malvern Hills and Lake Coleridge runs, and afterwards farmed at Brackcnfield, Amberley, for ten years. During a very active life, he occupied numerous public offices, and for many years was chairman of the Ashburton County Council. He was one of the first Justices of the Peac?, and sat in the Provincial Council. Mr. Harper was married twice. His first wife was a daughter of the late Archdeacon Wilson. In February, 18(18, lie wa? married to Miss Cracroft; a first cousin of the late Sir Craeroft Wilson, and there are three children of the marriage.