PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2831, 24 July 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir Thomas Mackenzie's term as High Commissioner expires during next month, but it is understood that no new appointment is to be made in the near future. Jle'will continue'to hold office meantime.

Information lias just been received that Captain L. De Lautour-Wells, K.N., nephew of Dr. Do Lautour, of Wellington, lias received the decoration of C.i»r.a at the hands of the Kin?.. Captain Wells was in command of tne Iria in the Egyptian. War, and. later tho Defiance Naval trainings and torpedo instruction ship at Devonport, and afterwards succeeded Captain Shaw in charge of tho London l'iro Brigade. On the outbreak of war he was recalled to the Navy,, and given an important appointment in 'tho North of Scotland. Later he was transferred to the Mediterranean, where ho was Senior Embarkation and Transport Officer at Gallipoli, and in that capacity was responsible for the landing of men and stores, and later for the evacuation work.

A Press Association message from Nelson states that Lieut. Athol Hudson, Bon of tho late Dr. Jumes Hudson, and a nephoiv of Mr. W. B. Hudson, Deand Secretary of the Government Life Office, and Mr. G. V. Hudson, of the G.P.O/, has been re-' ported "missing, believed to be killed," Lieut. Hudson was an old boy of the Nelson College and Waitaki High School, and was selected on December 21 last ns Rhodes Scholar for New Zealand, his studies at the Victoria College Wellington, having been attended with considerable success. He gained his B.Sc. degree at tho last examination, and was awarded tho senior scholarship in chemistry, which lie was debarred from holding, as lie already had tho Rhodes Scholarship. Ho was a member of the Samoan. Expeditionary Force, and while at the Islands he attained non-commis-sioned rank. When he returned to New Zealand he volunteered for active service abroad, and went in camp as a private. At an examination for commissions there were 41 candidates, and Mr. Hudson was second on the Hst. He wag appointed to tho 9th Esinforcemonts. Tho deceased, who Irad four brothers oii active service, was very successful in all outdoor sports, being'it notable long-dis-tanco mnner.

Mr. E. Balcombe-Brown, of Wellington, has received, a. cable mßSsag6 stating th&t his son, Plight-Commander Rainsiord Balcombe-Brown, has been awarded the Military Cross for destroying a' German, balloon. The message algo mentions that Captain T. Kinder, of Auckland, 13 missing. Plight-Commajider .3a-lcombe-Brown and Captain Kinder are two old Wanganui Collegians. The death occurred at "Greenhithn, Auckland, on Saturday, of Captain Cot. ton. The late Captain Cotton, who was 61 years of age, was for many years master and owiio'r of the well-known bar* quentine Prank Guy. Captain Cotton leaves a widow 4ndi one son, Dr. C. A. Cotton, lccturer on geology at Victoria College. Dr. Cotton, who had intend* to leave ffir England by tho Kuahine, has postponed his departure for amonth.,'

The officers who returned to New Zealand by the Rotorua, which arrived at Auckland from England on Friday .night, included Major Henry Chas, Nulsford, of Kaipara, Surgeon J Miajor W. Kington Fyffe, of Wellington, and Captain Henry Robert Kor. of tho Otago Battalion. News has been received from Auckland that Major W. Kington JYJfe. who came out in charge of tho soldiers on ; the Rotorua, arrived in Auckland in good health. He is to leave Auckland for Wellington this evening, and will be here this, afternoon. Captain A. C. Critchlcy-Salmonson, who was on loan to tho New Zealand Government at the time of the outbreak of war, and who left with tho Main Expeditionary Forcc as to tho Canterbury Infantry Battalion, is now commanding an Egyptian battalion stationed at Khartoum, with the rank of Bunbashir. Jn his (new command all orders are spoken in Turkish. He had been deemed unfit for active serrice, owing to. a wound received on XJallipoli, when the appointment to the Egyptian Army was ottered.• . Corporal Stanley Watt, recently re-ported-as • having been wounded m Prance, went to Samoa with the Advance Guard, and after his return was drafted into the Bth Reinforcements. Word has been received that his injury consists of a wound in the left arm. Prior to enlisting Corporal Watt was wharf and Customs clerk for Jlessrs. Thompson Bros., Ltd. Colonel .T. R. Purdy, director of med'i. cal services, and Lieutenant-Colonel T. A. Hunter, director of dental services, have been visiting Auckland. Captain Wm. Janson, W.M.8., Main Body, lias been appointed to attend the Imperial School of Instruction, to tak® a several weeks' course on -the i.ew Lewis machine-gun. Saturday's-casualty list reports among the missing Lieut. George H. Black, son of Mr. Black, a well-known run-holder of Povertv Bav (states the "Manawatu Standard"). Lieut. Blaok was married just before leaving for the front earlier m the year. Mrs. Black and her mother, Mrs. Allan Strang, of Palmcrston ISortli, left for England in June. Mr. C. G. Dernier, of Cheltenham, lias been olccted a member of the council of the Jcrsev Cattle Breeders' Association for tho Wellington and West Coast section.

Mr.iG. Whetter, for nine years inspector under the Taranaki Education Board.' is leaving New Plymouth at tho end of the month to take up a similar position under the Hawke's Bay Education Board.

Major W. .E. Sharman, who went to Egypt by the Ulimaroa and returned by that vessel as principal medical officer in cliargo of tho sick and wounded soldiers, made a brief stay in Auckland, and was expected to leavo there last night for Wellington.

Letters of sympathy have reached Mr. I\ J. Gane; of Normanby, from leading men th Canada, in connection with tho death in action of his son, Captain Frank Gano (reports an exchange. Tho Chief Inspector of Schools says that Captain Gane "was very highly respected by all who knew him, and loved l>v those who knew him best. Ho lived hobly and died nobly. It will always bo our aim to keep liis life beforo our young people, and set him as an example of a gentleman and a scholar." Tho cliaplainof his regiment, in a letter, says that "ho was a great favourite with' tho officers, for ho had won their respect, by tho splendid qualities ho had shown in his work, ,and by his men ho was greatly admired and loved. Ho died as a true soldier and a gallant officer would liko to die." The Edmondtnn "Morning Bulletin," in its columns, refers to his varied and splendid career, and says that "ill all his work he was thorough and systematic, winning the confidence and esteem of all his associates." The late Rifleman Greig Cumming, who loft Now Zealand with the lOtli Reinforcements, was tho eldest sou of Mr. William Cumming, ono of Manawatu's oldest settlers. Ho was born in Onohnnga on January 2G, ISOO, but wont to l'almerston at the age of ono year. Ho was educated at College Street School. Rifleman Cumming was the champion shot of the 10th Reinforcements, won his marksman badge, rifles." Ho was a good all-Tound sportsman, ana was noted for liis generous nature. De« ceased leaves a father, two sisters, and threo brothers to mourn his loss, th<s latter being* Mrs. J. Gilchrist (Palmer, ston ■ North). Mrs. Wm. Downes (Wellington). Private W. Gordon Cumming (Victoria), and Masters John and Olive Cumming (Palmorston North).