PERSONAL MATTERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9980, 4 May 1911, Page 5

PERSONAL MATTERS.

W Mr Robert Fletcher was yesterday unanimously re-elected chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board. Miss Norman 'eft Masterton to day, en route for the Old Country, where she contemplates remaining for some six months befoie returning to New Zealand. Ie is officially announced, says a cablegram, that Sir Francis Hopwood will act as honorary Uncler-Secretary for the Colonies during tho Imperial Conference. A cablegram announces that Queen Alexandra has left Vienna. Tlie correspondent of the Daily News says that Alexandra was unwell during the whole cruise. Mr W. D. Lysuar, Mayor of Gisborue, recently visited Wellington, accompanied by his medical adviser, Dr Charles F. Scott, for the purpose

of consulting Drs Harty and Garcia

Webster, regarding some trouble with his eyes, arising through overwork. The doctors, after consultation, agreen

that one eye must be removed at once. '|ffhe operation took place yesterday Aborning iv Wellington. S:r Joseph Ward, rrime Minister of New Zealand, will preside at n dinner to be tendered Mr Harold Tenuant, Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade, by the National Liberal Club in London on May iSth.

The death of Mr E. J. Biddiford, kuowu throughout tho Dominion as "King" Kiddiford, removes a remarkable personality. Had he been in America he would r.robably have been a Morgan or a Rockefeller. New Zealand is a smaller stage and there isn't elbow room for multi-million-aires. Still, so far m the condition of the country permits, Mr Kiddiford was a very rich man—the richest man in it. and lie owned more broad acres

probably than auy oth6r. Certainly he was the largest graduated taxpayer,

and the largest owner in the North I?

laud. Now that he has passed away it may be that some of these estates will be divided, but it is hoped that if this is to be their fate an effort will be

made to preserve such beautiful bush

as Mr Riddiford himself jealously preserved near Feilding. lie was a very shrewd, very able man, with a vast experience of the Colony, ami a man proved to mauy a steadfast frieud.—Pahnerston Times.