PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16163, 18 March 1918, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A cable message from London states that Sir Douglas Haig's first son has been born at Kingston. Captain D. M. Robertson left Christchurch for the West Coast on Saturday. He will return on Thursday. Mr Justice Stringer was a passenegr from Wdlihgton by the ferry steamer on Saturday. Mr Justice Herdman, who presided at the Supreme Court sittings at Hokitika. on Friday, received a warm welcome from the local Bar. Advice was received on Saturday that Mr T. R. Leithead, manager of the Kaiapoi Woollen Mills, who is on a business trip abroad, has reached Nesv York. Captain W. H. Pettit, New Zealand Medical Corps, has been appointed Health. Lecturer to N.Z.E.F. and Territorial camps for a period of six months, dating from sth Februafy. Colonel Guthrie, Mr Wm. Wood, Mr E. S. Luttrell, Rev. T. A. Price. Rev E. Robinson, and Mr J. A. McCullough, were passengers from Wellington by Saturday's forrv steamer. Word lias been received that Mr G. W. Horsley, late of Cbristchurch and Wellington, has been appointed iieutenant in the Motor-boat Patrol Service at Hotlte. Mr Geoffrey Nye (who is well-known in Christchurch) has resigned his position with the New Zealand Picture Supplier Ltd., after eight years' service, and has left for Sydney. Mr E. G. Bennett, stationmaster at Hokitika for the last eight years, has received notice of his transfer to Whangarei. He will be succeeded by Mr AY. P. Pavne, stationmaster at Otira, and formerly stationmaster at Moana. Mr J. A. Duncan, assistant-manager of the Hotel Australia, Sydney (late of Warner's Hotel. • Christchurch), whose skull was fractured in the William street motor fatality, was _ still in Svdiiev Hospital oil the 9th inst., but his condition was reported to be greatly improved. Lance-Corporal Maurice Malone, who I has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, is the fourth son of j tho late Colonel W. G. Malone. The j eldest son is in France, the second lias returned wounded find uiint for further service, and tho third is on u hospital ship.

Mr A. "\V. Mulligan, who has been acting as private secretary to the Hon. AV. 1). S. Macdonald for the past two vears iii tho absence of Mr K. 0. Chamberlain, tvlm is serving with the New Zealand Forces, has now been appointed private secretary to the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands. Advice lias been received from Ireland that the D.S.O. has been conferred on Major John Walter Itevell, Royal Engineers, the eldest son of the late Mr John Ahthdnv Revel 1, Newcastle House, Ncwtownmountkennedy,- and of Mrs Rev ell, 7 Gnltrim road, Bray. Ho, has been on active service since tho (jalhpoli expedition, and has been twice mentioned in despatches. Major Revell has relatives in Christchurch.

In General Orders it is announced that the following officers have been attached to the Staff for duty at Defence Headquarters: Lieutenant Eric F J. Reeves, M.C., N.Z. Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Own), for duty with the A.M.S. Branch (dated December 21st, 1917). 2nd Lieutenant C. C. Ziesler, N.Z. Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool's Ort'ti). for duty -with the Director of Supplies and Transport (dated January 24th, 1918). ' Private advice has been received that Mr A. E. Cheal. assistant-tram-way engineer to the Wanganui Borough Council, has been appointed to the position of works manager of the British "War Department's wireless 4nd telephone factory No. 3. Mr Chsal commenced his (electrical studies at college in' Auckland, and served a few vears in various braifches at the Auckland Power Station. Going to VVanganui same nine years ago, at tee opening of the tramway system there, Mr Cheal soon worked himself up to the position he held when he was granted leave for active service. Joining the Auckland Aviation School in January, 1917. he qualified for his pilot's certificate in the course of a few months, then sailed for England* and, after passing several examinations in aeronautics, signalling, etc., was on the eve of crossing to cho firing line when he received orders to take up the position referred to. Private Frederick William Kirk, of the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, attached to the Headquarters staff of the 2nd N.Z. Infantry Brigade, has been recommended for a distinction for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations on the Western i'i'oiit early last December. The official report recommending a distinction says: ''At about 10 o'clock, on the flight of the 12th-13th December the heavily bombarded La Bi'itte de Polygon. Private Kirk, a brigade ltlnner, was near tho entrance to the Brigade Headquarters returning With ft despatch when an enemy shell burst SO close that, the force of the explosion knocked him over, and although unwounded he was badly shaken. Nevertheless he refused to go off duty. A few mintites later, on hearing the cries of a wounded man, he rushed out of the dug-out, and, in spite of the bombardment which v/as still in progress* Private Kirk, at great personal risk, in the pitch darkness searched out the wounded man aiid brought him in to safety. llis gallant conduct is worthy of the very highest praise." Private Kirk was, prior to' his enlistiii" with _ the 9th Reinforcements/ in the employ of A. J White, Ltd., Chlistchurch. His sister, Miss K. E. Kirk, resides at 479 Caßhel street." On Wednesday night the Fairlio Patriotic Social Committee tendered a wetcdiile home to tho Rev. H. N. Robefts, Chaplain to the Forces, formerly vicar of tho Anglican paHsn of | Fail-lie, who has returned to New Zealand oh dutv, aha sails again for England shortlv. Chaplain Roberts is now vicar Of Woolstoti, biit ho won a popularity while in Fairlie which ensured the warmest of welcomes from his former parishioners and tlie general piibiic, who attended the social ill good nurhbers (says the Timaru "Herald"). Addresses of -welcome were given by the chairman of the Social Committee and Messrs C. J. Talbot, M.P., and F. R t Giliingham, and Chaplain Roberts made a most interesting reply, giving a sketch of tho conditions in France ahd England as affecting soldiers and civilians, and explaining the hospital system by which the meu are drafted to one or the other according to their condition or prospect of "hitting tho roof" (crossing to France) again. Mr Roberts said it was simply amazing tho difference between conditions of life in England and New Zealand at the present time— 'England in the grin of n srittdifig shortage, Now Zealand a land flawing with Iftilk and honey. Comparing the life in the two countries, Mr Robejrts said that when the war was ended wild horses would not drag him oiit of New Zealand as a home.