PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2538, 12 August 1915, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. G. iW.. Russell came baob to Wellington from Christohurch yesterday. Latest reports from. Sydney (says a , 1 ress Association telegram from Auckland) indicate that the condition of Dr. ; H. W. Cleary," Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, is causing grave • nnsiety.' Recent announce, t t'bat : ho is very weak and that there has been no improvement during the last ; few days in his condition, which is regarded as serious. A Press Association message from Sydney records the death of Mr. Fitz- ' William Wontwortli. son of the late Mr. William Charles Wentworth, formerly owner of Wantwood, near Dunedin. 'Mr. Robert Hall, of Messra. R. Hall , and Co., grain and produce merchants, who recently uudenvent an operation, . has recovered sufficiently to lcavo tho Hospital for his home. ; Mr. J. Mulvey, senr., clerk at .the Stratford Post; Office, has been appointed senior clerk at tho chief post office, New Plymouth. -- 1 ..'•■■ There ,was a large attendance at the, funeral of the late Mr. Frederick Diglit yesterday morning. The',president of the Commercial. Travellers' Club and ■ Warehousemen's i Association (Mr. George Pirie)'and representatives of the Wellington Bowling Club, of the Savage Club, and of many commercial houses, in Wellington were amongst ' ; Messrs. A. E. Phelps, iW. Wilson,' T. Turnbull, R. Roberts, E. Staples, and S. M'Guire aoted as, pallbearers. The servico at the graveside at ;Karori was conducted by the Rev, Stuart ' Ogden. Amongst, numerous wreath's were some sent from the Mel-, -bourne and Wellington Commercial' Travellers' Club and Warehousemen's 'Association, and tho Wellington Bowling Club. Sapper B. J. Gibson> New, Zealand Field' Engineers, who was killed in action on July 23, was the youngest son ; of the late Mr. John Gibson and Mrs. M.. Gibson, of Heme, Bay, Auckland. He was 26 years of age, and always took . ? . a keen interest in military duties, and was a footballer and hockey player. At • school he:, was ; awarded a. medal for being the best cadet. He was at ,one - time a member of the New Zealand Nativo Rifle Volunteers, and later was transferred to tho Now Zealand Engineers.. . He. subsequently joined the Ammunition Column and served as a second lieutenant. Ho left for tho front with the Second Reinforcements. Surgeon-Major C. E. Maguiro is at present in Cairo, according to.: cabled advice received in Aucklaiid; on Monday. Tho cablegram described him as ' being "lit and well." . . ■ Lieutenant-Colonel Plugge, of .Auck- , land, who went to England to recuperate, after having been wounded at the Dardanelles, has; been suffering from Mediterranean fever. ' He was unable to write, but his sister,'with whom he . ' was spending part cf his 62 days' leave, stated in a letter received this week that Lieutenant-Colonel Pluggo was in London and was receiving every care, a specialist having been called in to attend to him.' The writer added that Lieuten-.int-Colonel Plugge was progressing satisfactorily; , Mt. Harry Phipps, of Wellington, has just received news that his brother, ■Mechanist Sergeant-Major Phipps (who is serving with the Mechanical Transport Department, Army, Service Corps, ■ in the Ypres distriot) has been awarded . the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his good work during the first -three months of this year, with the 6th Division. : The following extract from a recent letter, shows that something in this way was not' altogether unexpected j—"Glad to say T am in the pink of condition and : ,--.going,'-as jstrong^;^, possible. We are ■ stillJnaving plenty of work,' : but tihings aro going, splendidly, and my column is. in..splendid order, and no ... troublo at all with my-men. . You will bo glad to know that . I was promoted to Warrant Officer on April 11 last—it • gives me - a good. bit of extra pay and also adds Is. 6d. a day on'my pension if I get through this all- light My luck and. perseverance, must be "of the 'ihest,- as I received a card, a few days " ••ligo. from, the General Commanding the - Division stating'that my good work for the past few .months had been brought : to his notice, that L had distinguished myself, and that my conduct'should not pass by without recognition. So I do not .know,-what will .happen next, but the least will be 'mention in dispatches.' I have also been'complimented by all. officers, who say they are'very . well pleased- with my work., I shall certainly, keep tho, card as'a souvenir of fchis war if I get through .all right."