PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16435, 31 January 1919, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

A London message says the condition \ of King Peter of Serbia is most grave. Sir Francis Bell was a passenger from the North by yesterday's ferry steamer. ' Mr W. A. Judge, of the literary staff of the Dunedin "Star," is spending a holiday in Christchurch. Mr George Brown, formerly postmaster at Balfour, hoe been appointed postmaster at Dunedin North. Mr A. l>. Pnrk, who has been chief dork in the Auckland Public Works Deportment for the past 4{ years, is taking up the position of chief accountant to the Department of Agriculture. Mr L. L. Wilson ie appointed Deputy-Registrar of Electors for the Kaiapoi district during the holiday leave of Mr R. Fisher, postmaster and - BCtinc-regietrar . His Honour Mr Justice Herdman returned to Christchurch yesterday. and was occupied until a late hour last night with Supreme Court Chamber work. The- members of the French Mission K left Auckland yesterday by the Niagara A for Vancouver. Thev will spend three [r weeks in Canada prior to their return to Franco. Mr D. A. J. Rutherford, at present headmaster of tho Highcliff School, near Dunedin, has been appointed headmaster of a school for white and halfcaste children, Apia, Samoa, and will leave early in March. Among those who returned to Auckland by the Niagara from Sydney on Saturday, vras Mr Frederick Stubbe, F.R.G.S.. Ho intends to remain in this oountry for two or three months beforo starting on an extensive journey in tho Far East. Captain J. Coleman, N.Z.S.C, who will be remembered by many in Christchurch as one of tho staff-sergeant-majors on the district staff about twenty years ago, is at present on a visit to this city, and with Mrs and Miss Coloman, is staying at St. Elmo. Mr John Murray, for fourteen year* past assistant nt the Palmereton North High School, and who acted as rector during Mr Vernon's absence in England, has been appointed rector of the Palnierston North High School. There were 24 applicants. Mr Murray -will soon return from active service. Our Dunedin correspondent telegraphs that Mr C. Holdsworth, managing director of tho Qnion Steam Ship Company, arrived at Montreal on Monday last, on his way back to New Zealand. Mr Holdsw6rth t who has been absent from the Dominion for over two years, is expected to return to Dunodin in March. Among the officers who returned by tho Briton was Captain G. W. Morice, who was on tho teaching staff of Wellington College, when ho enlisted. He was severely wounded in France. lie was sheltering in a shell hole. when a • hnnd grenade landed in the holo. Captain Morice sustained no fewer than fourteen wounds. For some considerable time he received hospital treatment in England. Mr James Cowan, of Wellington, who las written numerous books on New Zealand subjects, has been elected a Fellow of tho Roynl Geographical Socioty, London. Mr Cowan ie at present engaged by the Government, under tho Department of Internal Affairs, in y gathering materials for a National History of'tho Wars in New Zealand, covering the pioneering period from IS4-5 onward. Lieutenant-Colonel Guy Powles, C.M.G., D.5.0., N.Z.S.C.. of Wellington, who served with distinction in Egypt, Gallipoli, Sinai, and Palestine for four years, was transferred to France in October last, and served only about a fortnight there when the armifltico was signed. He is now undergoing a staff training v course at Caius College, Cambridge. Major . Holdernoss, of tho Mounted Division, is also taking the course. ■ Mr H. A. Parkinson, headmaster of > Ncwtown School, is resigning from tho * service of the Wellington Education Board to take up the position of secretary to the Now Zealand Educational Institute. Mr Parkinson has h£d close on forty years' teaching service; ten years under the Wanganui Board, ana almost thirty in the Wellington district. For fivo years he was on the staff of Te Ai*o School, and then for eight years headmaster at Greytown. His term as headmaster at. Newtown is almost twelve years. During all his teaching years he hns been interested in the work of the Educational Institute, and he has attended annual, conferences since 1899. He was appointed secretary in an honorary capacity in 1911 and has held office ever since. The metituto has grown >so much m mem-bers-hip, and ite outlook has so widened, that the appointment of a secTetarv to devote Bis wholo time to the work has become necessary. Mr Parkinson's resignation will take effect in March. Those who have been connected in " ( any way with Defence work in Dunedin will learn with regret of the resignation of Major O. H. Moller from the position of group commander for Otnfjo (says the "Otago Daily Times"). His work during the war gamod for him the hich appreciation of all who came in j contact with him. Major Moller real- - , ised that there would bo office™ return- ,• , ing from active service qualified to all • tho position which ho was occupying temporarily, and he therefore applied • to bo relieved of his duties. Thiß application has been.sent on to Wellington by Colonel Nicholls (officer commanding the Otago military district). Major.Moller offerod to go on active service at the outbreak of war. being then attached to the 4th (Otago) Regimont. Ho wns not accepted for for- \ oign service, but was immediately appointed brigade-major to tho Otago Tnfantrv Brigade, under Colonel iu. aSmith. On October 18th, 1914, he waa appointed area officer in charge of area 45 and a few months later ho accepted . the appointment of group commander at Dunedinr Major Moller will resume hie position with the 4th (Otago) Kegimont immediately ho roseirM,information of the acceptance of hie resignation. Last night the members.of «>« Sumner-RoScliffe Miniature «iflo O« b met in the Sumner Town Hall to bid. farewell to two of their ™ e °£e"7 Messrs W. J. Lawson and H. N Buttle in tho unavoidable absence of the president Mr R. W. Piercy, the chair wae Seen by Mr G.F.Allen. Referring to the guoste of tho evening, the chairman stated that both had spent the greater part of their lives in tho borough Mr Lawson was born and educated at Sumner. He had shown great interest m the old Cricket Club, had earned the respect of all as a borough councillor, aziu would bo mieeed as a member of tho School Committee. Mr Buttle taken a keen interest in all public maV tors, whilo Mr? Buttle had been amopwt ', the most enthusiastic of the patriotic l workers. Tho loss of both families would be severely felt, find tho club members desired to record their appreciation nt thoir services to tho club and to the district, and would ask Mr Lawson to accent a morocco-lwund pocket-book, and Mr Buttle a gold-mounted fountain pen. The recipients were heartily applauded, nnd in accepting the gifts they suitably acknowledged the gocd wisnee of tho meetjne;. A short toast list was honoured, and musical and other items were given by Messrs Britten, J. A. Williamson. 0. Mulholland, and <>. Dowling. Messrs Lawson and Buttlo hnve purchased the property of Mr T. Downs, Spotfiwood, Cheviot, and aro leaving for the north early next week.