PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS

Mr. John Grigg, the woll-known station owner of Canterbury, intends to go to England shortly to see his sons who are in tho British Army. Mr. A. D. Thomson, Assistant Public Service Commissioner, lias resigned from the chaivuianship of the Alien Enemies' Commission. He is succeeded by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. at Paluierston North. Mr. W. R. Bagnall, a member-of tho New South Wales Legislative Assemtfy, who has been spending a few days in Wellington, left for Picton yesterday, his intontion being to see as much of tho Marlborough Sounds as he can. Mr. C. F. H. Pollock, of Napier, is on a visit to Wellington. Mr. J. Singleton, who has been for the past five years an inspector in the Fiji police force, has relinquished that position to take a position as third officer on the Makura, according to an Auckland roport. Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., Ltd., managing agonts for Nippon Yusen Kaisha in Australasia, are in receipt of a cable message to tho effect that Mr. T, Hayashi has been appointed manager for the Nippon Yusen Kaisha. The Rev. M. Bawden Harris, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Pahiatua, announced to hie congregation on Samday that he had accepted a call from the Levin congregation. Trooper Hugh Hamilton, of Nelson, who left New Zealand with the Main Expeditionary Force, and was wounded over the eye by a bomb, has been transferred to the Flying Corps, in which he has obtained a commission. Mr. R. Watson, states the Nelson "Evening Mail," has received a cablegram from Cairo stating that his three bons, Ken, Wallie, and Wid., serving with the forces, are together in Egypt. Mr. Watson has not yet received any official notification of the death of his son Roy, who was reported killed at the Dardanelles. Lieut. J. Rutledge, of -the Royal Field Artillery (and a. New Zealander), has ■•been wounded in France.—Press Association. l&e following boys will join tlhe train-ing-ship Amokura in Wellington next week:—H. M'L. Morrison (Nelson), J. Kerr (Whataupoko), J. C. Commerer (Eltharn) ,I\ S.! Smith (Pahnerston North), J. G..J. Hughson (Timaru), H. C. Martin (Dannevirke), Robin K. Monk (Kaiapoi), C. L. Jensen (Christchurch), H. C. Wells (Christchurch), N. R. Johnson (Nelson), and V. Fullford (ChcSstchurch). Word has been received that ' Mr. George Paterson, who came to New Zealand from England about three years ago,, has been killed in Flanders. When visiting in Timaru, Mr. Paterson took a keen interest in «port; he was made an honorary member of the Timaru .Motor Cycle Club, and when he took part in the sports held by the club named, gained one of tihe gold medals given Ly it. ; / Among tin; ilatest, enlistments is Mr. J. T. M. Fisher, eldest son of Mr. George Fisher of Christchurch, and grandson of the late Mr. J. T. Matson and the Hon. J. T. Fisher. He was among the' first' to enlist with the Main Expeditionary Force, but just prior to its departure was discharged on actount of illness. Mr. T. Bastin, engineer of the Kairanga County Council, is retiring from that position. s ' Mr. C. A. Norris, secretary of the National Mutual Life Association, with headquarters at Melbourne, ,is at present in Wellington. An instance .of rapid promotion of a New Zealander is mentioned in a letter received from a correspondent in England (says tho "Otago Daily Times"). The .New Zealander is Major F. R. M'Mahon, R.E., who hails from Wellington, but is well-known in Cromwell, and was a student in the Otago School of Mines some years ago. He enlisted as a trooper in King Edward's Horse, but in January last, before that regiment went to the front, he obtained a- commission in an infantry regiment, fiiis was followed in May last by a transfer, with a captaincy, to the Royal Engineers, in which corps he secured his majority in October. A veteran officer of the Post and Telegraph Department died this week (says the Auckland "Star"), in the person of Mr. Robert Charles Black, who up to the time of his retirenmt in 1914 had beon for many, years postmaster at Dannevirie. Mr. Black was trained a 6 a telegraphist in the Imperial Government service, in which he served for five years in London, Manchester, and Dublin. Coming to this country in the early 'seventies; he joined the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department. His first station was White's Bay, near Blenheim, whore the inter-island cables connecting the North and South Islands liad their southern terminals, and where he soon became known to his brotherofficers throughout the colony as one of the most rapid and expert operators in the service. Subsequently Mr. Black was stationed at_ Wellington, Featherston, Greytowri, Riverton, Milton, and Dannevirke. He'took, a , very keen interest in social and educational matters, and for many years was an elder of the Presbyterian Church. A few months ago Mr. Black took up his residence in Auckland, where he was living up to the time of his death. He was 64 years of ago, and is survived by Mrs. Black and a family of three sons and two daughters.