PERSONAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13487, 30 July 1907, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Messrs J. B. Connett and Newton King, tho New Plymouth Harbour Board's deputation, and Messrs J. H. Stubbs and J. Hine, jun., who are to support the Waitara Harbour Bill, were passengers by this morning's express to Wellington.

Colonel Davies, Inspector-General of Forces, and Colonel Bauchop, Officer Commanding the Wellington district, went south by this morning's express.

At St. Mary's Church yesterday tho marriage of Mr A. K. Dyne, who has been connected with the local railway staff and is now transferred to ralmerston North, to Miss Daisy Smith, youngest daughter of tho late E. M. Smith, M.H.R., was solemnised. The marriage aroused considerable interest and there was a large gathering at the church. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. J. B. Brocklehurst. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr T. Smith, and Mr H, M. Smith acted' as best man. Mr and Mrs Dyne left by the afternoon train for Palmerston North.

A Press Association telegram. from Feilding states that a complimentary dinner was given last night to Mr E. A. Barton, who has just resigned the managership of the local branch of the Bank of Australasia, after holding the position for twenty years.' The gifts presented were a roller-top desk and a silver salver. Mr E. Goodbehere presided.. Customers- of Bank and leading citizens were present. Complimentary speeches were made by the Chairman, ex-Mayor Haggitt and others, referring 1 to the happy relations that had always existed between Mr Barton and the Bank customers. In reply Mr Barton said his position had been pleasant, owing to the financial stability of the customers and the district. He had. no intention of leaving the district, but was going into business in Feilding.

The London correspondent of the New Zealand Herald, writing on June 21st, says : — Mr T. Hutchison (New Plymouth) has come to England, accompanied by Jtiis wife and daughter. They travelled as far as Marseilles by the P. and 6. steamer Mooltan, arriv-J ing there in April. Thencfe they made a tour on the Riviera, and worked their way through to Italy, where they made an extended tour, ultimately reaching Switzerland by way of the Italian' lakes.' Paris was visited en route to London. They expect to be in the metropolis for some time. The return journey will be made by. way of America (Canada-Van-couver), in October, or NovemberV ; Last eveniilg', in the Fiteroy Methodist dhurcli, a farewell meetings was held to recognise the valuable work j done by Mrs Stanners, -who is leaving^ the district to reside in Eltham. The' Rev. A. Armstrong and 1 Mr C. $*. Bellringer voiced the regret of the' local j church at losing Mrs Stanners' 'ser-i vices, and its hope that in her new home she would have increased prosperity. /fW Ladies' Sewing ' Guild, of which she was for some time president, presented her with a beautiful workbox. During the evening a musical programme was gone through, songs being given by Mrs T. Griffiths, Miss Armstrong, and Mr Armitage, and in-, strumental items by Mrs Riinciman and Miss Ethel Linn, and a recitation by Beatrice '"', -■•»'•- -■ The Law Times of June loth contains an obituary notice of Mr Augustus B. v Abraham," who, it is believed, was the -senior member* of the English Bar, having been called so long ago as the 30th June, 1835. ' As he was for some time a resident of Taranaki in the earjy fifties some of our readers ; niay be interested in hi| career. He was the son of a well-known London architect anjl studied Jaw in the chambers of his brjjjther-in-law, afterwards Lord Chancellor" Wcstbury. After practising a few ye^rs in, the equity courts he came to.. New. Zealand, where his " coiisin, Charles. Abraham, afterwards Bishop of. Wellington,- was then working under Qishop Selwyn. In August, 1852, he came to New Plymouth from Auckland, taking passage in the schooner v Eclair with Lord Robert Cecil, after Marquis of Salisbury. Here he found friends of his family, who had also recently come out from London, and with them he resided for a time. Filled with enthusiasm for the free open-air life of the colonists,, he was going to "leave his wig and gown on the top of Mount Egmont" and devote himself to the cultivation of the soil. But his enthusiasm soon, waned and presently he was "thanking. God that he had a profession to fall back upon.'* So he went to Melbourne, where he quickly acquired a lucrative practice. In 1863 he returned to England and was appointed Secretary of Presentations, and, a little later, Principal Secretary to the Chancellor. In 1865 he took up company work and was able to take an active interest in it until within a week or two of his death. A few months ago he appeared in person before Mr Justice Kekewich in a company ,matter, and caused general amazement by stating that the last time he had the privilege of addressing the High Court of Chancery (as it then was) was in the year 1840. He was in his ninety-sixth year.