PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2734, 31 March 1916, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister, Right Hon. W. F. Massey, celebrated his 60th birthday. Mr. Massey \v,is born in Londonderry on March 29, 1850. He arrived in Auckland in tlia ship City ■of Auckland in 1869, and has, therefore, been a resident of the Dominion 47 years. He was first elected to Parliament in 1894.

;.. The Hon. J. Allen goes south on Saturday, night. He intends to visit his own electorate, where, at Lawrence, ho will present a Distinguished Conduct Medal to a soldier constituent who has been awarded this decoration for "an act of gallantry and devotion to duty in the field." The soldier is Private Robert Clarence M'Leod, and his record number is 8/1302. Mr. Allen intends; also, to sjeak at Milton on Wednesday night. "

The Hon; G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, returned to Wellington yesterday afternoon.

The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) is due backin town from the country to-mor-row evening.

Brigadier-General A. W. Robin, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, accompanied by Lieut.-Colonel H. E. Pilkington, adjutant-general, have returned to Wellington from Auckland.

A Press Association message . states that Mrs. Macduff Boyd, of Hastings, has received word that her son, Pluart W. Boyd, third officer on the Persia, lost his life when that vessel was torpedoed on December 30 last. The newscame as a severe shock to the parents, as they believed him to be on the transport Dongola. The late Mr. Boyd was at one time- in the service of the Tjser Line on the Star of Australia.

Colonel G. J. Smith, Officer Commanding the Canterbury Infantry' Brigade; has obtained twelve.-months leave of absence, with permission to leave the Dominion, and as soon as l his duties in connection with the annual camps aie comploted he intends to_ proceed to England to offer his services to' five War Office.

Mr. Fredk. Martin, who died in Palmerston North on Monday, at the age of fifty-eight, was for many years in business in Wellington. He arrived here when a young man, and in partnership with Mr. Riddler opened a' pork butcher's shop in Cuba Street. Subsequently he was in business in the same line in Willis Street. After he had sold out there he went to Europe, and on. returning he settled _ in Napier. Some years ago he established a bacon factory in Palmerston North, but for the past eighteen months he had been out of business. He took a keen interest in the turf, and waß the owner of several racehorses. He has left a widow, a son /now in the British Army), and a daughter.

Major W- J- B. Clough, of the Aus-' tralian Expeditionary Forces, arrived in 'Auckland ny the Victoria from Sydney on Tuesday, oh a short holiday visit 'to the Dominion; Major Clough intends to spend a couple of days in Auckland, afterwards coming to Wellington, where he will catch' the Sydney boat on his return journey.

Mr. George Knight, a member of the 'Auckland City Council, intends visiting '.Wellington to see his son, who is a non-commissioned officer in the Eleventh Reinforcements. \

The appointments of Mr. H. J. Middleton to the Southland Land Board, and of Mr. A. Oummings to the AVest- ' land Land Board are gazetted.

Mr. J. :W. 0. Passau has been appointed by the Government to the Havelock Harbour Board, vice Mr. J. W. Brbwnlee, resigned..

Mr. G. Frost is to be asked to represent the Miramar Borough Council en the Assessment Court.

': Mr. F. W. Penlington, of the Christchurch Post Office, has been appointed head of the mail staff, Dunedin,' vice ,Mr. R. H.. Bagshaw, retired. .

' Mr.W. A. Andrews, of the accountants' branch of the G.P.0., is relieving the chief postmaster at Westport for a few weeks. "