PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2585, 6 October 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Matauta Presbytery has nomin* ated the. Rev. J. Gibson Smith, of St. Andrew's' Church, Wellington, as Moderator of ths General Assembly for 1916r1917.-r-Presß Association.

Captain A. F. Watchlm, R.N.R., who relinquished command yof the tJnion Company's tug Terawhiti in March last, in order to join the Imperial service, writes' to his mother, Mrs. E. Gullery, under date of July 30 that he had been appointed to'H.M.S. Jonquil as navigator, and was then at-Malta on the way to the Dardanelles: He remarked that this was considered to be a good position, and expressed pleasure at the prospect of his taking a part in the operations of the Allied Flee£. Prior to his transfer to the Jonquil, Captain Watchlin had been engaged in navigating prize ships in. Home waters, he had also seen service ks second in command of H.M. torpedo-boat .Thrasher, and went through a course of instruction in gunnery. The Rev. Mr. M'Caw, Lower Hutt, and the Rev. Dr. Elliott conducted the funeral service of the late Mr. John, B. Virtue at Karori yesterday. Among those present, apart from members of ■bis family, were Mr. Evans, of Timard, representing the Flourmillers' Association, Mr. H. Baldwin, Mayor of Lower Hutt, and a large number of business friends in the flour and-grain trades.

The funeral of the late Private Leslie Gordon M'Kinstry, who died at Trentham from cerebro-spinal meningitis, took place 'in; Auckland on. Saturday, afternoon. The cortege left the home of the deceased's ; parents in Sarsfield Street, Ponsonby, arid the interment took place at the Waikaraka Cemetery. The remains were carried to their last resting-place on. a gun-carriage supplied by the New Zealand FieldArtiUery.The pall-bearers were: Sergeant Moore, Privates Gordon 1 , Hodgson, Bruford, Millet, and Neumigan, members of th© New Zealand Medical Corps. There was a large attendance-of friends. TheEev. I. Jolly conducted tibe service, at the conclusion of which "The Last Post was Bounded, and three ~ volleys were fired over the grave.

V lieutenant, Arthur 6. Aldridge, who is, reported to have died of wounds re*, ceived in. action at;the Dardanelles on the hospital ship Valdavia, on August 8 was bom at Nelson, and was the eldest son. of tlie late Mr. T. Aldridge, formerly stationmaater at Frankton Junction. He was educated at the Southland 'High Soliool, and was for many years a member of the District Traffic Manager's staff in Auckland/and held a commission in the Railway Engineers. Ho left for the front with the Auckland Infantry Battalion, Fourth! Reinforcements, and was Wo months in the firing line before meeting his death. Lieutenant Aldridge was only 30 yeaTS of age, and in March last was married in Wellington to Jliss Yernie Young, daughter of the late Mr. E. G. Young, of Christcliurch. Mrs. Aldridge is ,a! 3 present living at Highwic Avenue,, Remuera, Auckland, and late Lieutenant- Aldridge's mother, sister, and brother reside at Epsom.

Mr. A. A. Bennett) solicitor, of Wellington, has been appointed managing clerk for Messrs. Roy aaid Nicholson, of New Plymouth, and he will leave for the north on Friday nest. For many years Mr. Bennett has been secretary of the Wellington Hockey Association,' in which position ho has rendered valuable assist, ance to the sport. Before leaving, Mr. Bennett will be tendered a complimentary ''social" by his hOckey friends.