PERSONAL MATTERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9193, 13 October 1908, Page 5

PERSONAL MATTERS.

Mr Porteoiis, of the Daunevirker postal staff, has boon promoted to the position of chiof clerk at tho Woodville ofiice. Rev. A.," Graut ,-lias ,beon electee! chairman of, tho Dannevirke High School Board of Governors, in place, ,of Mr J. J. Patterson, resigned. A Gisboruo Press Association telegram records the death of Air Peter Niven. aged 80 years, who had been forty years in the district, and never left it. "■■'•; Constable MoKelvey, officer in: charge of tho Carterton Police Station, is to be transferred to the charge of Clyde-quay statiou, Wellington, a position that he formerly occupied. His place in Carterton will be taken by Constable Carmody, Of _ Clyda--quay. The-Hon., W. Hall-Jones has received a sheaf of telegrams from ali; parts of the Dominion, congratulating him on his appointment as High Commissioner. Mr Hall-Jones will leave for England,about'the first weok in; December! ■ The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, in the course of a few valedictory remarks just prior to tne close of the session on Saturday night, mentioned the fact that there are now in the chamber ouly niue members who were there wheu he entered Parliament eighteen years ago. The death is auncuueed of Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, at the 'age of seventy-eight. He was Ambassador, at Madrid from 1892 to 1900. He represented Christchurch in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1880, and Portsmouth from 1880 to 1885. He was'the author of a Life of Napoleou. The Prime Miuister is to speak at Palmerston next Monday, aud at Feilding next day. The Hou. W. Hall-Jones will inspect the central section ,of' the North Isjaud Main Trunk Line before proceeding to Timaru ou Friday. The Hou. R. McNab will attend a complimentary banquet to Mr Major, M.P., at Hawera, returuing to Welliugtou on Saturday, aud proceeding South on Monday. The Hon. G. Fowlds will leave for Auckland on Wednesdays morning. Mr D. D. Murphy died at Opunake last week. He arrived in Wellington from Irelaud wheu twenty-one years of age, aud joiued the armed constabulary. Pie was transferred to Opunake at the time of the Parihaka scare, and was also at Parihaka when Te Whiti was arrestod. After that forty picked meu were wanted tor the battery corps in Lyttelton, and he was amongst those chosen. Wheu the forces were reduced twelve .years ago he left, and took up laud on the Eltham road, near Opunake. One of the early settlers in South Taranaki'passed away in the person of Mr Balmforth, at , Patea. He was seveuty years of age. Arriving in ! Wellington in 1857 he resided iv the Rangitikei aud Christchurch districts for some time, aud went to the Mauutahi district iv 1875,/ where he took up a farm. In 1882 he became landlord of the Central Hotel, Patea, aud (says the Press) remaiued iv that position for eight years. The succeeding years he was agaiu farming in Mauutahi and at Otoia. He took a keen interest in local politics, aud was for several years a member of .the Patea West Road Board, Patea Harbour Board, aud Patea Borough Council. At the Methodist Ohruoh, Woodville, ou Thursday last, by Rev. B. H. Ginger, Mr James Thomas, of Maharahara, sou of Mr H. Thomas of the Woodville railway staff, was mar-: riod to Miss Edith Tnomas, eldest daughter of Mr Fred Thomas, of Chepstow, England. The bride was giveu away by her brother, Mr Harry Thomas, and was attended by her cousins. Miss Belle and Grace Thomas, sisters of the bridegroom. The best man was Mr Fred Thomas, brother of the bridegroom. A reception was held at the residence of Mr H. Thomas, and in the evening the couple left for their uew home at Maharahara. Mr David Rose, F.R.1.8.A,. whose death took place at the Aucklaud Hospital last week, after a brief illness, was at one ."time one of the most promiueut architects iv the Dominion says the Herald. He was in his 80th year, aud during his residence iv New Zealaud, which dated Dack mauy years, he designed many uotable structures, aihoug which may be mentioned the Auckland Harbour, Board Buildings, the Star-Hotel, the Dunediu Museum, and the head offices of the Uuiou Compauy. The Geeloug Cathedral aud St. George's Hall, Sydney, were also constructed in accordance with his designs. The deceased was a widow T er, and leaves two daughters, one of which is the wife of Professor Sweet, of Tokio University, the other residing iv Wairarapa. The approaching retirement of Captain J. B. Watt, commauder of the Lusitauia, and commodore of the Cuuard fleet' is auuouuced by the Liverpool Journal of Commerce. His resiguatiou. postponed some time back at tho request of the Cuuard directorate, is now to take effect—probably after his uaxt voyage—aud he leaves the bridge for good. Captaiu Watt, who comes of a loug liue*of Scottisli shipmasters and shipowuers, states the London Telegraph,entered the Cuuard service in the year 1873, after considerable experience in sailers. He successively cpuimauded the Umbria, Etruria, Lucauia, and Carmania. The latter was the first venture of the Cuuard Compauy in the matter of turbine steamers, and Captain Watt, alike by his experience of that vessel aud his standing in the company's service, naturally succeeded to the command of the Lusitauia when she was ready for sea. He has handled the mammoth vessel with the same success aud freedom from accident has distinguished his previous commauds. Many au Atlantic voyager vvill learn with regret that the doyen of the Cuuard service vow desires rest aud retirement. Captain Watt is a secoud cousin of Mr V. Higgius, of the teacht iug staff of the Carterton DistricHigh School.