PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16430, 25 January 1919, Page 9

PERSONAL ITEMS.

♦— Mrs E. A. Curlett. Christchurch. has recoived advice that her sou, SergeantMajor Ivan Curlett, is returning with draft No. 206 in a few days. j Sisjnaller C. J. S. Moore, sdn of Constable P. Moore, St. Albans, who left with ihe 16th Reinforcements, and was gashed at ilessinos in August, is returning with draft No. 211. Sir Rupert Clarke and Lady Clark® (Melbourne) arrived from tho North yesterday morning. Sir Rupert intends to enjoy some fishing while in Canterbury. Mr Reginald K. Duckworth, purser of the Moana, who has been eig.it years in the Union Company's service, has resigned his position to accept an appointment at Rarotoiiga with tho Cook Island Trading Company. Sir James Allen and the Hon. W._D. S. Mac Donald are at present on a visit to Napier. They promised a deputation yesterday that Cabinet would consider tho matter of the aikaremoana hydro-electric schome. Cable advice has been received of Sorgeant L. J. Kincaid's marriage ; n London, on January 4th, to Miss Dorothy Collie, younger daughter of Mr Charles Collie, of Essex, England. Sergeant and Mrs Kincaid expect to arrive in New Zealand about Easter timo. Mrs L. M. Knight, SSo Colombo stroet, has been advised that her, son, Pilot Joseph Knight, has received his commission in tho Royal Air Force. Lieutenant Knight obtained 'his certificate at Sockburn, and went to England in April. He was for some timo at Hastings, going from thero to Bristol. Tho Rev. J. K. Archer, who has been appointed to the Sydenham Baptist Church, takes a very keen interest in politics. Whilo in Invcrcargill ho was appointed on tho City Council, and has been selected by the Labour Party as the Invercargill candidate at the next general election. Mr Archer commences his ministry at the Sydenham Baptist Church on Sunday, February 2nd. Captain T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P. for Westlandj who has been on active service, and his sister, Mrs Seddon Woods, who has beon residing in England for some years, returned to Wellington on Wednosday, and were met at the Thorndon Statidn by a large number of relatives and frionds. The West Coast, where Captain Seddon spent his boyhood, was well' represented. Amongst others who extended a hearty wolcome were the Hon. J. Grimmond, M.L.C., and Mr D. J. Evans, Westland County Clerk, and socrotAry of the Westland Racing Club, old friends of the family. Captain Soddon will visit his constituency at an early date. I A largely-attended meeting of rej turned soldiers was held at the Rotorua Sanatorium, to tako 6teps in the direction of retaining the services of Colonel A. S. Herbert, New Zealand Medical Corps, who, after holding the position of Government balneologist for 17 years, has resignod, and is to leave at the end of March. The soldiers object to his departure, on the ground tnat no one else has an equal knowledge of how to utilise the curative powers of the mineral waters of the district, and because the colonel, by his careful attention to soldier-patients, holds their confidence and ostoom. The Hon. W. H. Horries was waited upon in connexion with the matter" by a .deputation of returned soldiers and civilian patients at the Sanatorium. Mr Herries replied that he understood that the resignation was Colonel Herbert's own desire, as he wishod to return to England, on account of his wife's health. Ho would bring the deputation's request before the Minister of Defence and Tourist Resorts. Damo Nellie Melba and soino friends visited Mr John Lemmono at Medina Hall, Darlinghurst, a few days ago, on behalf of the Sydney Testimonial C9ll- - Committee, to 'acquaint him with tho outcome of the Melba concert. Friendly congratulations to the smiling invalid were followed by the presentation of a splendid silver loving-cup, filled with ripe plums, with a nursery rhyme mo6sage on a sheet of paper on the top: "Stick in your thumb, and pull out a pltun, and see what your friends have sent youl" Under excitement, sympathetically shared in by the deputation, the flautist removed the fruit until the vision of a cheque suggested better things ,in store. Closer inspection proved the gift at £2088 13s, and the delighted recipient, considerably overwrought at such an overwhelming result, was further informed that there was "a little more still to come in." The loving-cup was engraved with the words, «'To dear John Lemmone, from Admiring and Concert Friends, January 14th, 1919." The "Sydney Morning Herald" says Dame Melba has been "creating records" all her life, and this is doubtless another one so far as an Australian testimonial to any individual artist is concerned.