PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16420, 14 January 1919, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr G. Witty, M.P., intends leaving for Wellington this evening. Dr. H. Ohesson, [District Health Officer, left for Wellington last night. Mr W. G. McDonald, Dr. J. Hight, and Mr P. Hally leave this morning for the West Coast, to continue the enquiry they are making into the coal industry of the Dominion. Mr W. J. McKay, cljief despatch clerk in the Dunedin Telegraph Office for many years, has been promoted to tho Wellington office. -Mr McKay will .he succeeded by Mr Thomas, at present in the Wellington office. Mr J. T. Phaup, Allenton, Ashburton, has been advise 4 that his son, Private T. W. Phaup, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on tho field of action. Private l?haup left with the Wellington quota of the 21st Reinforcements (Signallers). The Base Records Office has received cable advice that tho Distinguished Scrvieo Order has been awarded to Major Geoffrey Armstrong Buddie. As ho is not a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, his nearest relative is not known. Mr W. H. Montgomery, director of the Hounded Soldiers' Curative Department, and Col. Christie, who is associated with him, loft Christchurch last evening for Wellington, en route to Rotorua. They have been for several days in this city in connexion with tho organisation of their Department. There was a large and enthusiastic attendance of the Jewish Social Club last evening, to bid farewell to Mr W. Balltind, who is shortly leaving for America. After honour had been paid to the guest, dancing was indulged in to a late hour. During the evening a very fine musical programme was given by various local performers, and by the members of the vaudeville company now appearing at the Oporn House, by permission of the manager, vlr W. Helsdon. Speaking at last night's meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association, the president, Mr X. B. McCaKum, spoke in appreciative terms of the late president, Mr H. M. Cotton, who fell a victim to the recent influenza epidemic. "The death of Mr Cotton," he said) "was a severe blow to the Association. Air Cotton was generally recognised as a coming citizen, a man who progressed in everything ho took up. He was a fine character, a fine leader, and a tower of strength to tho Association, and though we must carry on without him, we are very much tho poorer by his loss."