PERSONAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144083, 30 April 1913, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Mr. ,D. S. Wylie w'as a passenger north by the Barawa last night.

Sir James Carroll, who has been seriously ill, i is making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Mr. George Smith, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary for Mauritius, lias .been appointed Governor of Nyasaland. Mr. C. Brockway Rogers, of Auckland, formerly a very well known resident of New Plymouth, is in town. Mr. G. Whitcombe left for Palmerston North yesterday morning to take up a position with the firm of Bett and Bayly, motor engineers. A cablegram from Stockholm states that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Sweden and their children have started for London.

The Duchess of Connaught had a severe operation and is as well as can. lie expected. The operation was rendered necessary owing to widespread inflammatory adhesions.

Mr. David Denman ’ arrived from north on Tuesday to take charge of the Northern. S.S; Go’s, local -agency ■in place of Mr. J. C. Webster, who has resigned. .

Mr. Geo. Fox leaves New Plymouth on Thursday night by , the Rarawa for Auckland, then by the Maheuo to Sydney on May 5 en route for England. Mr. Fox expects to be away till about the end of the year.

Admiral Sir Charles Hotham, the senior Admiral of the fleet, has h'rcd at the ago of 70 years. Admiral Hotham, was in New Zealand during the Maori war,, and was wounded in one of the assaults on the redoubt at Rangiriri. He was promoted for his services and received the New Zealand medal. Ho was flag-captain on the Alexandra at the bombardment of Alexandria, and held several posts as. Commaader-in-Chief.

Another old and respected settler, in the person of Mr. ‘ Benjamin Urry, passed away peacefully at his residence, Hine Street, New Plymouth, on Sunday last, in his 77th year. The late Mr, Urry arrived in, Taranaki 38 years ago from Rothwell, Lincolnshire, and took up farming" in the Stratford district. This lie successfully carried on until ten years ago when he retired and settled in. New Plymouth. He leaves a'- widow and grown-up family of eight, lour sons and four daughters, Messrs. T. Urry (Inglewood), W. Urry (Waikato), J. Urry (New Plymouth), B. Urry (Mangaweka), Mrs. T. Inch (Stratford), Mrs. W. Gyde (Waikato), Mrs. W. Skinner (Johnsonville), and Mrs. H. Eva (Palmerston North). There are also 26 grand-children and four great-grand-ehildren. The funeral took place at To Henui Cemetery this afternoon.

Retreat Tapsell, known as Refci, among his Native friends, died at Maketu on April 21, at the advanced age of 77 years. An interesting liftle story, the Rotorua Chronicle says, attaches to his name, which Was given to him on account of his parents having to retreat from Maketu on accouflt of the invasion by Waharoa, the great fight- . ing chief from Rotorna. The deceased was a half-caste, and the only surviving son of John T. Tapsell. Retreat was a splendid specimen of manhood, well over 6 feet in height, and built in proportion. Formerly he was Sergeant of Police and Customs, Officer at Maketu. He leaves a wife and eight children. Mrs. Simkins, of Whakatane, is a sister of his, and the last of the family of John Tapsell. A large tan<d is being held over the remains at Maketu. John T. Tapsell, Retreat’s father, was a typical British sailor of the last centurv, rough and 'ready, strong and endui.iig. His appearance at Maketu in 1826 was enforced owing to the wreck of the brig Valcoha, at Te Tumu t near that Maori settlement. He took unto himself a,Native wife and settled down, living'many years beyond the allotted span, being 95 years of age at his death. In his early career he served in the British navy, < and was present at the historic action before Copenhagen, when Nelson looked at the signal to retire, displayed by his superior officer Sir Hyde Parker, with his blind eye, said he could not see it, and ordered his men to continue the attack, which ended disastrously for the Danes. . *