PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

' The Eight Hon. W. F. Massey (Prims Minister) and the Hon. J. A Ilea (Defence Minister) are still unwell, and it is improbable tliat they will Ixs able to take up their work" again wlien the Houso resumos to-morrow night. Both have had severe attacks of influenza. Mr. Allen came bo the House one day after tlio first severity of liis attack ed, to attend to urgent busincss-tfojinect-ed with the Military Service Bill, but he had a rather serious relapse, aJid may not appear for some days yet. Mr. J. Hislop, Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, who has been on a visit ,to Auckland, has returned to Wellington. Mr. J. G. Hanlciiis, who has. for soma time past been connected with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd., is retiring on August 1, and "will join the Mastarton staff of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. Lieut. Nillson, of Napier, who returned somo months ago from the front, has been appointed superintendent of the wireless .station at Awanui. Mr. E. H. Culver, of tho literary staff of the Napier "Daily Telegraph," wlio has joined the Ninoteonth Reinforcements, was ott Saturday lite recipient of a wristlet watch from his fellow workers. Mr. P. Higginbottom, formerly of Wellington, who for tho past eight years has been manager of Messrs. Ross and Glendining, Ltd.'s, Wanganni branch, has resigned from their employ, having acquired an interest in tie firm of Parser and Son, furnishers, of Wanganni. Mr. John D. Scott, who has represented Messrs. Ross and Glendining, Ltd., on tho Taranaki ground for many years, succeeds Mr. Higginbottom. Sergt. T. Richardson, who was invalided back from GaLlipoli some time ago, died suddenly at tho Napier Hospital on Friday morning. Deceased, who was well known throughout tho district, served in tho South African War, and was one of tho first men to onlist m Napier at the beginning of tho present war. He was a son of tho late Major and Mrs. W. A. Richardson, who rcsidos at Greonmeadows. Prior to enlisting the deceased soldier was employed by Mr. A. A. Konnedy. of Napier. A very old resident of InvcrcargiU died on Tuesday, after a. short illness, in tho person of John Bath, founder of the firm of John Bath and Sons, of Invercaigill. Tho lato Mr. Bath was born in Lauaceston, Cornwall, England, in. 1844, and came out to Tasmajiia witli hia parents when a child. Ho secured his first employmont in New Zealand at hi 3 trade with the lato Thomas Hanna, coachbuilder, Invercargill, with'whom he remained until th'e West Coast gold'rush, .set in, where ho tried his luck for somo time with varying success. Iu a cable message rcceived,by the Victorian Ministry, Sir Peter M'Bride, Agent-General in London, states that tho Crown Prince of Serbia has. bestowed on the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and himself (tho Agent-General) tho insignia of the Order of Saint Sava, in recognition of tho great and friendly help and, sym-, pathy shown to Serbia by tho people of Victoria. A large number of. employees of the "Otago Daily Times" Company assembled on IVidny to bid farewell to Sergeant Prank H. Sooullar, anothor of'their number who is shortly leaving on activo service. Mr. G. Feu wick (managing director) referred to the highly honourable record of tho Sooullar family, stating that Sergeant Scoullar already hod four brothers on active service—a, private, two sergeants, and a lieutenant—all with the New Zealand Forces. on the subject of Tecruiting, Mr. Fomvick said that from the beginning Otago had always provided her full share, and there was no doubt she would do so to the end. Mr. J. J. Graham, Mayor of Woolston, Cliristchurch, had the misfortnne to break one of his legs on Friday morning by falling from a cart.: The death is announced of Mr. Charles Purkiss, an old settler of Marlborough. He was prominent in municipal affairs in Blenheim for many years. Tho late Mr. Albert Marks, of the Harbour Board's staff, who was accidentally killed last week, was accorded a large and representative funeral yesterday afternoon. There were present many members of tho Harbour Board's stall, including tho secretary (Mr. H. E. Nioliolls), and among the many wreaths sent wore tributes from the board, the Government Printing Office, tho Wellington Savage Club (of which the deceased's brother, Mr. Marcus Marks, is Chief Savage), rind the Victoria Bowling Club. The service at the graveside at KaTori was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Pitowski.

Mr. R. R. Jflntosh, late of Oamarn, wlio is at present in England, 'is hoping to (jo to Perth almost at once and start training with the Black' Watch Regiment. Having held a commission in New Zealand, he is hoping to obtain ono in this favourite Scottish regiment. Mr. Mlntosh left New Zealand about tlie end of January, and, en route to England, spent several weeks with relatives in the Argentine.

Captain D. J. Williams, who for many years was manager for the.Union Steam Ship Company at Newcastle, died at Epping, near Sydney, on Saturday. Captain Williams was n brother of the late Captain W. R. Williams and brother-in-law of Mrs. M. A. Williams, of this City.

Lieut. Drnmmoiid, who was well known as chief officer of the Government steamer Hinemoa, and who went Home in I!.M.S. Tainui two voyages ago, was given command of a minesweeper "somewhere at sea near the Britisli Isles." Lieut. Drummond was in charge of one mine-sweeper when was chased by a German p-ibni*-!"*. ''•> headed his vessel for port, and had to traverse a mine-field near a an'i-i coast.' The ship's bow struck a mine, with the resulb-tliat her stem was blown oil'. Lieut. Drummojiu, by careful navigation, however, manoeuvred his charge safely to port, and was complimented by the Admiralty for his achievement. He is now in charge of a larger vessel in the North Sea. Mr. Peterson, who was second engineer of the Hinemoa, anil Mr. Mitchell, who was third, hare both received engineer lieutenants' appointments on board armed cruisers.