PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1926, Page 6

PERSONAL.

The death of Lieut.-Col. Sir George Ho!ford, Equerry-in-Wait>ng to His the King from 1901 to 1914, is announced in a London cablegram. Dr. Philip D. Graves has resigned his position in the Palmerston North Public Hospital in order to take up private practice in Taranaki. Mr. Fred Humphries, now manager of the Union Steam Ship Company’s Oamaru branch, is spending a few days’ holiday in New Plymouth, where he was born and spent his boyhood. Mr. A. B. Shaw, who had a narrow escape while climbing Mt. Egmont. last Sunday, was reported to-day to be making good progress towards recovery from the effects of his exhaustion and exposure. It is expected that he will leave the New Plymouth Hospital ■ within a few days. The death occurred last week in his 91st year of another Wellington pioneer, Mr. Francis Sidey, who before his retirement a good many years ago Was a well-known auctioneer in the city. The late Mr. Sidey was born in Perth in Scotland, where his father was Lord Mayor, and hescame out to Australia and then on to 'New Zealand, arriving in Wellington 70 years ago. The late Mr. Sidey was at one' time Mayor of the old Melrose borough, which portion of South Wellington was absorbed into the city many years ago, and he was one of the oldest Masons in the Dominion, also one of the oldest J.P.’s. Mr. Sidey leaves a family of one son and seven daughters. Mrs. Sidey died about three years ago. Mr. Arthur Rossiter died at Kilbirnie on Thursday. Born in England in 1857, he was the eighth son of the late James Rossiter, of “Glodheath,” Cheltenham. Receiving his education at Cheltenham College, he came to New Zealand 39 years ago, and his worth was soon recognised by the leading Wellington commercial men of that time. He was appointed to the secretaryship of the Evening Press, a position he held right up to the winding-up of the company. Joining the Lands Department some 34 years ago, he filled many positions in that department, including those of receiver of land revenue, New Plymouth, and receiver of land revenue and chief clerk, Hokitika. Mr. Thomas Rossiter, barrister-at-law, London, is the only surviving brother of the deceased. Mr. Rossiter leaves a wife, a daughter, Mrs. Davidson, and two sons, Messrs. H. M. Rossiter, of Dannovirke, and F. L. Rossiter, of Wellington.