PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Dr. Gibb went south last evening. Ha is to conduct anniversary services in Si. Paul's, Invercargill, on Sunday. His place in-St. Jolin's will bo taken by the Rev. W. E. Souter, who is the agent of the National Bible Society of Scotland in North China. Mr. Souter has a wide and familiar knowledge of things Chinese and has been all over the German possessions at Kiaochau. The Salvation Army in New Zealand has been advised that General Booth lias promoted Colonel George Mitchell, the Army's Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the rank of Commissioner. Lieutenant Wy brants Olphert, R.N.R., chief officer of the- R.M.S. Renruera, is under orders to report at the Admiralty for active service. Lieutenant Olphert is a son of Mr. W. Olphert, of the P.W.O. 14th Regiment. Lieutenant Olphert leaves Wellington for London on September 24. Colonel Batchelor, of Dunedin, one of the oldest and best-known men in New Zealand, is at present in camp at Auckland, and will accompany the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to Europe. On Tuesday Colonel Batchelor was presented with an up-to-date field service camera by the New Zealand graduates in Auckland. The presentation was made by Dr. Hardie Neil, chairman of the honorary staff, and eulogistic reference was made to the good work which has been done in New Zealand by the departing officer.. "In 1833," states the "Alexandra. Herald," "Mr. Robert Logan, a mere youth not long from Berwickshire, took up one of the subdivisions of the old Deepdell run near the place now known as Kokonga, christened it 'Marietanea' (the Valley of Silence) and proceeded . to carve out a home in the wilds. He put up a stern battle in the "'eighties against low prices, bad seasons; drought and other drawbacks, not the least a fcrty-mile distance from Dunback, then the railway station, and got a good training as a * young man in fighting an uphill battle. As lie began to get a little more leisure, he organised the Maniototo Mounted Rifles, one of the finest troops in Otago, and became captain, major. and lieutenant-ool-onel in turn. Having sold his Central Otago property, ho was eventually appointed colonel in charge of the Auck-. land district, and ho now has the distinction to be the British officer to whom the German authorities in Samoa surrendered their possessions.