PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2340, 23 December 1914, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. W. H. Herries leaves fo:c Auckland by the first express to-diy. The Hon. A. L. Herdman is leaving for the north to-morrow with his family, The Hon. R. H. Rhodes left las's night for Christehurch, • -where he wilt spend the holidays. Mr. David Mills, Sydney manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, and his wife, arrived from Sydney by the Moeraki yesterday en'rout© to Dune-, din. Mr. Walter Empson, the late headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School, left Wellington for London by the Turakina on Thursday last, with the intention of volunteering his services to the British Government in any, capacity for which he may be suitable.Mr., Fred Nathan, of Joseph Nathan' and Co., who has been visiting Australia, returned by the Moeraki yesterday. His brother, Mr. D. J. Nathan, is due to leave Vancouver for Auckland by the Niagara to-day. Mr. H. W. Lever, manager of thfl . Bank of New South Wales here, returned from a visit to England yesterday by the Moeraki. The death occurred at Masterton yea*, terday of Mrs. Prior, wife of Dr. N. H. Prior, of Masterton. The deceased lady was only twenty-five years of age, ana was a daughter of the late Rev. 'league, a well-known Methodist minister o£ Victoria and Tasmania. Cable advice has been received 06. the arrival at Home of Mr. E. A. Caddow, of Bannatyno and Co.'s staff, who went to London in charge of a troop* ship canteen. Miss Vera Remee and Mr. George Cross, leading players of the Willoughby Dramatic Company, passed through: Wellington yesterday, en route to Dunedin. Mr. A. Sizer, second officer of thai Union Company's steamer Maori, has been granted leavo of absence to join: the Expeditionary Force. Prior to his departure on transfer to Wellington, Mr. G. Shirley, of tEai Gore Telephone Exchauge, was presented with a travelling bag and fountain' pen from the staff as a token of esteem. In connection with the refreshes course now being held at Trentliam for senior military officers, tho following, officers , are at present visiting Wellington: —Auckland Military District.—Officer Commanding, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Hume, R.N.Z.A.; General Staff Officer, Major C. R. Macdonald, Im. peria)' General Staff; Assistant Quartoiv master-General, Major J. E. Barton, N.Z.S.C. Canterbury Military District." .—Officer Commanding, Colonel R. A.' Chaffey, V.D.: General Staff Officer* Major W. C. Finnis, N.Z.S.C.; Assistant Quartermaster-General, Major W.H. Meddings, N.Z.S.C. Otr.go Military District.—Officer Commanding, Colonel; J. C. Nichols, V D.; General Staff Officer, Major 1). A. Hickey, D.S.O.j N.Z.S.C.; ' Assistant QuartermasterGeneral, Major S. A. Grant, N.Z.S.C. One of the masters of tho Auckland Grammar School, Mr. A. D. Dinneen, • contemplates proceeding Home to bo trained as an aviator, with tho object of entering the British Army Flying; Corps for service in the war. At last meeting of the Board of Governors of the school, the headmaster, Mr. J. W. Tibbs, supported Mr. Dinneen's application for leavo of absence for this purpose. Ho stated that tho applicant liad been eight years on the school staff, and had always taken an active, part in the cadet movement. The majority of the governors present expressed tho view that any man desiring to fight for his .country should bo oncouraged, though Mr. J. H. Upton raised the point that a schoolmaster's placo wasi hard to fill. It was agreed to graAt Mr.Dinneen one year's leave of absence on half-pay. Passengers to arrive from Sydney by the Mooraki yesterday included Mr. H. X. Sloman, headmaster of the Sydney, Grammar School, Canon and J Irs. Burton, the lfe\\ C. Delnnev, Dr. and Mrs. Wa'rdell, and Mr. J- Clegg (of Dune din). Mr. L. C. Wookott, formerly a- -well, known Wellington pressman, has been appointed Melbourne correspondent ta . Sydney -"Daily, Telegraph.' l

Mr. Thomae Charles Kerr M'Kell, stipendiary magistrate, Newcastle, died on December 16 after a short illness at a private hospital in Sydney. Mr. M'Kell, who was bom in'Bathurst about 66 years ago, was vary ■ well known throughout the Stato. He had been in the Public Service for 40 years. In the Masonic craft ho had occupied several ligh positions. - • Mr. J. A. Sproul, managing agent . for the Oceanic Steam Ship Company at Sydney, has been advised of the death of Captain J. L. Cowell, late commander of the steamer Vefltura. Mr. P. 0. Corless, Commissioner of Stamps, has received a cablegram intimating that" his daughter, Miss Valerie Corle6a, had passed both teacher' 6 and • performer's examinations in piano and theory at tlio Royal Academy of Music. Miss Corless only started her studies in Ixmdnn-'in May. At the last examination there wero 300 candidates, and not one passed the two tests like Miss Corless. An interesting coincidence is that Professor Whitemore, who was the outside tutor of Miss Corless, was also the teacher of the late Miss Richmond, under whom Miss Corless carried on her preliminary studios in Wellington. • Private advico has been received in ; Christohurch that Captain W. J. Shannon, of the 16th Lancers, who was reported missing, is quite safe. Captain Shannon, was on Lord Islington's staff' ' when he was Governor of New Zealand. Mr. H. Fay, Vice-Consul for Norway at Melbourne, is spending a holiday in the Dominion. Ho has lately been travelling in the southern Cold Lak&s ' district, and will spend the Christmas season at Mount Cook. Mr. Fay has also planned a tour of .the' Nortli Island.