PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2526, 29 July 1915, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

General Sir Alexander Godlcy waß cheered at the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday, and it was decided to dispatch the following cable message to him:—"The Farmers' Union Conference desires to express its high appreciation of the heroism and self-sacrifice of our soldiers at tho Dardanelles,' and is convinced that tlio remarkable achievement of the landing at Gallipoli was largely tho result of the confidence between oflicers and men. Wo recognise this esprit de corps by the mgn ideals which you as Commandant havo consistently and persistently placed before the youth of this Dominion, and this conference feels proud to think that at last conference wo were able to havo your valuable advice in our endeavour to assist the New Zealand Territorial system, and to wish tlio successful termination of your present efforts." Tho conference followed up this decision by singing the National Anthem. On Tuesday night, Private Ralph Cowley died in the Victoria Ward, Wellington Hospital,' the cause of death being pleurisy and pnoumonia following measles. Deceased's next-of-kin is A. Cowley, Nukualofa, 'Conga, father. His sisters, however, reside in Wellington. An official mcssago states that Sergeant J. Rodger, a nativo of Christcluuch, and a prominent athlete, was awarded tho D.C'.M. for services in the Dardanelles.—Press Association. At a social gathering in the Trinity Methodist Schoolroom last night, opportunity was taken to make a presentation to the Rev. W. Slade, superintendent minister of the Wellington South circuit. The presentation was made by the Rev. J. Dawson, president of the Methodist . Conference, and on behalf of the members and friends of the Dunedin Central Mission. Owing to illness Mr. Slade was forced to leave Dunedin before the full expiration of his. term, and the people of that city lacked occasion for tho expression of their appreciation ;of his services, hi making tho presentation, which took the form of an illuminated address, Mr. Dawson referred to the arduous and self-sacrificing work carried on for eight years by Mr. Slade, and.to tho magnificent hall which stood as a monument to his labours. Lieutenant J. L. TUrnbull, of the 6th Infantry Reinforcements, lias been appointed camp adjutant at Waikauae. Tho Rev. A. Macdonald Aspland, of Palmerston North, formerly in charge of the Courtenay Place Congregational Church, intends to leave for England at an early date, and take up his permanent residence there. Mr. W. Matheson, a prominent figure in Association football in Wellington, and who has returned from duty in Samoa, is about to join tho Reinforcements. ■ Mr. R. J. White, general manager of the Guardian Assurance Company, has gone on a visit to the South Sea. Islands. Tho Rev. C. Askew and Mrs. Askew, of Wellington, have been visiting Auckland. Mr. S. Myerscough, examiner for Trinity College of Music, London, was a passenger from Vancouver by the Makura, which arrived in Auckland on Monday. He will conduct examinations in various -.parts of New Zealand. It is reported from Christchurch that the late Private D. Kempthorne, who died of disease contracted in Trenthaiu Camp, was tlio only son of Mr. James Kempthorne, of .Templeton. He was born at Greondale, and was only 18 years of ago at tho time of l is death. Ho was educated at the Templeton Public School, and when tho call camo for the Special Force he enlisted and was accepted. Up to tho time of his joining, the Expeditionary Forces lie was employed at tho Canterbury Meat Company's works at Islington. . His loss is mourned by the .-ports clubs of the district. Tho funeral took place on Saturday, leaving his parents' residence, King Street, Templeton, for tho Templeton Cemetery. He was accorded military honours, his remains being borno on a gun carriage, and a number of his platoon mates from Trent-ham acted as pall bearers. His fellow-brothers ot tho Olivo Branch Lodge, U.A.0.D., also tendered him a, Druidio funeral. Dr. Forgus, of Dunedin, who recently left Now Zealand as ono of tho staff of tho No. 2 Stationary Hospital, has reached Cairo. Major A._M. Samuel, of Wellington, has been visiting Auckland. Mr. J. Stanton, city solicitor in Auckland, who has been on a brief visit to Wellington, was to leave on liia return north, last evening.

When mentioned at .yesterday's sitting of the Trentliam Camp Royal Commission that New Zealand was experiencing a shortage of qualified- military officers, Dr. ; Martin, a member of the commission, asked: "Do you think it possible to get wounded officers from England?" General Robin: "We have asked, and have not been ablo to get thein. We havo also tried to get them from India, and have been unable to." Dr. Martin: "I know two good officers . . . and they would come out." Mi\ Justice Hosking: "Perhaps they are being used' by tho Imperial, Army." Dr. Martin: "No, they aro not." General Robin said that he would make another effort to get officers .of that description.

A mud-worm is one of the latest additions to the zoological, collection in Canterbury Museum. It belongs, to a. group of worms that livo in the mud in the sea at moderate depths, and obtains its food by eating sand and mud. Tlie larva is segmented on tho body, like an ordinary earth-worm, but the rings aro lost as the animal grows. It inhabits New Zealand waters, but is not. of ton found, although specimens are occasionally washed upon the beach. The specimen in the museum was found on tho beach at New Brighton.

Tlio death is announced of Mr. AVilliam Lisson Bailey, a well-known resident of Feilding. Mr. Bailey was born in Hobart, 78 years ago. The late Mr. Bailey had many stirring days on tho goldfields of Victoria in tho early days. When he was twenty ho went Home, and on returning came with liis brother Alexander to New Zealand, spending some time on tho goldliolds of Otago. They afterwards went to Sandon with the first'settlers, Mr. Alexander Bailey remaining there and bringing up his family at Ohakea. Mr. Bailey, who was married at Paliantamii to Miss Flighty, went to Aorangi before roads or railways were in c-xistence, and afterwards took up his homestead at Taomii, He was largely interested in tho sawmilling business in association wth the late Mr. Cornfoot, and with the Feilding and Wangaiuii Sash and Door Factories. H# gave a section of land for the Taomii school, and -was for years an activa chairman of the School Committee, being succeeded by his son. ■ He was for years a member of the Feilding Jockey Club Committee, and ho was one of the promoters of tho club and -was a true sport in every sense of the term. Ha was a P.M. of the Lodge Feilding No. 41, and had been a representative to tlio Graud Lodge. He lias been a sufferer from asthma for some years, and this was accentuated by a severe illness ho had two years ago. Six -weeks ago ho had a severe cold, and though lie seemed to have completely recovered he gradually, sank. Mr. Bailey leaves a family of seven sons and two daughters. They are: Misses Sarah Mid Jessie (Taolini), Messrs. James (Kimbolton), Steven (Pemberton), William (Mangawckal, Archibald (Kawatau), Alfred (Kawatau), Douglas (Dani'.evirke), and Neil and Ray (Taonui). There are also six grandchildren. The funeral will leave 'Mr. Bailey's late residence, Taonui, for tho Bunnythorpe cemetery to-morrow after-, noon.-