PERSONAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16494, 23 July 1919, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Sir Douglas Haig and Admiral Beatty have each received an earldom and £109,000. A London cable states that Sir Douglas Haig is recovering. Marshal Foch is attending the peace celebrations at Brussels. A Sydney cable reports tho death in India ‘of ’ Mr. Sydney James, a comedian. Admiral Sir John M. de Eobeok succeeds Admiral Calthorpo in the Mediterranean command. Mrs. E. R. Bayly, Omata, has received word that her son, Lieutenant A R. Bayly, is returning by the Ayrcshire, which left England on July 10. Mr. W. Stanley, Hillsborough, has received advice that his sou, Trooper P. P. Stanley, is returning by the “UUmaroa,” due at Auckland about August 6. Airs. J. Fraser, Aloturoa, has received word that her. son, Private Syd. Fraser, is returning by-tho Ulimaroa, duo at Auckland on August 6. Airs. J. G. Hooker, South Road, has received word that her son, Gordon, is arriving by tho Ulimaroa, which is due to arrive at Auckland about August 6. Word ha’s been received that Rifleman T. J. Crone is returning by the Gicsson, duo to arrive in Wellington on August 2. A Wellington message states that Sir Andrew Russell has definitely decided to stand for the Hawke’s Bay seat, for which Sir John Findlay will not be a candidate. In compliance with the wish of the late Sir John Denniston. his remains will be cremated in Wellington. The ceremony will be a private one. Airs, E. Reid, Wallace Place, has received advice that her son. Sergeant H. J. Reid, is returning by the Ulimaroa, due at Auckland about August 6. Advice has been received by Air. J. A. Stanford, of Huiroa, that his second son, Rifleman R. S. (“Dick”) Stanford, is returning by H.M.T.S. Giessen about August 2. The late Air. Rodolphc Alarie Martin Joseph Laurent, whoso death at tho advanced age,of 93 years, occurred at Hawera on Alonday, came to New Zealand over 67 years ago, making his first home at Wellington.’where lie married a daughter of Captain Scott, of Wellington. Prior to coming to the colonies he -served in the French army, reaching the rank of major. He had five grandsons on active service. His greatest wish had been to see the war finished, his country free, and his boys returned, and his wish has been gratified. One of his grandsons has won the V.C., and: another has been recommended for the D.C.AI.; and what he considered the greatest honour of all was that they all volunteered. He leaves a wife and grown-up family of six ,sons and four daughters to mourn their loss. The old gentleman came of a wellknown family of Picardy, with which the Duke of Kent, father of Queen Victoria, is said to have contracted an alliance. Tho Duke is stated to have legally married Madame, de St. Laurent, Baroness de Fortison, a French-Canadian lady. 'The validity of the marriage was not recognized by the laws of England when he married Princess Victoria Alary Louisa of Saxc-Coburg. who became the mother of Queen Victoria. The Duke v. as said to have left a sou by his morganatic wife, and this son was known in later years as Brigadier-General t-recil. Air. Laurent, of Hawera, came of the family to which Madam do Lauren, Baroness do Fortison, belonged.

Death has claimed another of the old settlers of Taranaki in the person of Mr. Thomas Eduard Hamerton, who died at his residence at Inglewood on Tuesday afternoon. Ho was the fifth sou of the late Mr. Holden Hamerton and was born near Burnley, Lancashire, in 1841. He was educated at the Burnley Grammar School and came to New Plymouth with his parents in 1854 in the ship Cashmere. For several years he was engaged on his father's farm near Now Plymouth. He took part in the Maori wars, being second lieutenant in the Mounted Volunteers, and later captain of the Patca Biiies, holding that rank until the corps was disbanded. For his services lie was awarded the New Zealand modal. In 1867 Mr; Hamerton commenced business in New Plymouth as a commission agent, but tho V\ hite Cliffs massacre caused him again to volunteer for service in the mounted forces. In 1873 he started business attain as an accountant and auctioneer in Now Plymouth, where he remained until 1881, "when ho removed to Patca as accountant and drafting clerk to his In-other, the late Mr. (lervase Hamorton. Three years- later ho took over the Patea newspaper which he carried on for many years, eventually .selling it and taking over the Inglewood Record, which ho has since conducted. He was a member of the old Town Board of Now Plymouth, and as such became a member of the first Borough Council. In 1865 he married a daughter of the late Major Parris, by whom he had four sous and live daughters. The second son, Mr. 11. W Hamerton, is town clerk of Patea and the third. Mr. Charles K H. Hamerton, has been engaged with Ins father in carrying on the Inglewood paper. The funeral will take place at Patea on Thursday.