PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2696, 16 February 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

A private cablegram reports the tieatK at Ismailia of Lieut. Graham Griffiths, who was thrown from a liorse and fractured Ids skull. Deceased left with the Bth Reinforcements ae a corporal. He was a Blenheim borough councillor, & member of the firm of Griffiths Bros., and a very popular resident (states i Press Association telegram from Blenheim). Mr. E. R. Brabazon, Collector of Customs at Wellington, is spending a holiday in Auckland. Mr. 0. T. W. Maclaurin is acting as Collector during Mrv Brabazon's absence. The death occurred! at. the. Wellington Hospital ou Monday last after a very, painful illness, of Captain A. G. Withers, district secretary of the N.Z. National Reserve,'. and late regimental ser-geant-major, Royal Ns'.v Zealand Artillery. The late Captain Withers,- who was 62 years of age, joined the Armed Constabulary on July 1, 1872, afterwards joining the New Zealand Permanent Forces when the former body was abolished. He reached the rank of warrant officer with the It.N.Z.A., and was retired pu superannuation on May 31, 1911, after a continuous military service of close on <10 years, during which time he held the respect and esteem of everyone connected with him, for liis efficiency, straightforwardness, and dew tion to liis work. He was an _ active member of the New Zealand National Reserve, holding the position of staff captain and district secretary. He carried out his duties of district secretary, till within a few weeks of his death. Deceased came of a family with a long and honourable military career. He was the youngest son of the late Major Edward Withers, who came to New Zealand in 1847 . with, his regiment, the Goth, and served through, the Waikato campaign. He was later appomted to the command of the Haw»te s Mfr trict for liis services dUnng. the Coast disturbances, and afterwards to command of the Auckland ' district, where he died in harness on May -'0, 1883, after 60 years' continuous service. The services of father and son therefore total just on 100 yea, * record for any part of the «orld. Deceased leaves a wife and six c] two sons and four daughtes. The deceased officer will be buried with ram tary honours, the 11.N.Z.A,f U rm6hms tlio firing party, guu carnage, "horses. National furnish the band and pall-boarers. Mr E J. Fitagibbon, the Wellington fhHtoman Catholic Churches on SuaH. Hamilton, late of Oriental BaV, has receivod word from er , . son Andrew, who is at present, in London, tot he HamS'obSncd" the" Jan-is scholarshio 12 months r£*A. trLl xss j s-"' and B. A. Ginger.