PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2886, 26 September 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. G. W. Russell and the Hon. J. A. Hanan have returned from the South Island. The Hon.' Dr. M'Nab left for Gisbome by the Main Trunk express on Sunday evening. Mr M'Master, of the Sydney office of Messrs. Burns, Philp and Co., went south to Lyttelton' and Dunedin by tho Maori last* evoning. He intends to return next Wednesday, and will leave for Australia on October 5. Captain P. A. Elder, reported in to-day's roll of honour as having been wounded in the fighting at the Sommc, was an old Wellington College bov who enlisted as a private. He showed such special qualifications for his military duties that he passed rapidly through the non-commissioned ranks and finally won his captaincy for services in the field. He has been through a great deal of the fighting, as has also bis brother. Both are sons of Mrs. Elder, of 66 Aurora Terrace, Wellington, Writing of the death of Captain O. R. F. Johnston (son of the Hon. 0. J. Johnston, Speaker of the Legislative Council), in 'tho early stages of the "Teat Somme offensive, the officer commanding relates the circumstances as follow:—"On July 1 the battalion was one of tho two leading battalions of the brigade in - the assault just north 0 f , Captain Johnßton commanded the left of the two leading companies of the battalion. On leaving' our trenohes we met with an intense machine-gun and-'rifle fire from the front and from the right flank. The lines, however, never -hesitated, and took the first German lines and pushed on beyond it. Owing to . , . the enomy were able to cut in from this direction between, the remnants of the two leading companies and the supports. We eventually got them out and managed to hold the German front line and to block his approach from , and the supporting battalions were able to get on and get round , All the officers in Captain Johnston's company were killed, and only about 40 unwounded men of the company remain. They . behaved with extraordinary gallantry and it was due to their courage in pushing on and tenacity in holding what had been won, which paved the way for the successes which have followed. We found Captain Johnston's body about an "hour after the first assault, ■ betivoen the first and second German lines —he was quite dead and had been hit in several places. Ho was buried with the other officers of tho battalion by our men about GO yards in front of the German front lino and about half a. mile north of . Captain Johnston was a most useful and gallant ofiicor, and his death is a great loss to ms all. Ploaso accept my most sincere sympathy." Mr. James Costall, at one time a very _ well-known resident of Wellington, is at present on a. visit to the city from Rongotoa._ Mr. Costall is one of the earlier, arrivals in New Zealand, having landed at Lyttelton as far back as 1855. Though his obituary notice was recently published in cortain papers Mr. Costall is still hale and hearty, and like Mark Twain roady to crack a joke over the premature announcement of his decease. The death occurred at Napier on Sunday of Mr. Frederick Bradshaw, who has resided in Napier during the past 26 years. The deceased, who was aged 59, oamb to New Zoaland about 36 years ago, and first settled in Ashburton. He was very well known, and leaves a widow, fivo daughters, and three sons. ' Dr. W. Lamb and tho Rev. Dr. Morley, of Melbourne, arrived from Sydney, by. tha Biyerina yesterday. j

Mr. D. T. Stuart, of Hill Strde¥> Wellington, has received news flat bin second son, Rifleman A. Mcliss Stuart-* who was in business in Wellington as. a sharebroker up till a few months ago, has died ot wounds in, France. The late Rifleman Stuart was a. native of Wellington, and was educated ati Wellington College, where he laid the foundation of a notable athletic career. After leaving College, ho entered the Railway Service, and finding that the Government Service did not suit his energetic disposition, he left, and entered the employ of the New Zealand! Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., litd. He remained with that company wji till a. few years ago, when he com* menced sharobroking in Wellington on! his own account, and held a seat ori the local Stock Exchange. He enlisted toward the end of last year, anct. left Now Zealand as a member of the! 3rd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade ("Lord Liverpool's Own"), and proceeded from Egypt to France with that,'company. Rifleman Stuart, who was/46 years of ago, was a fine athlete about twenty years ago. For some; time he was Wellington's best quartet and half-mile runner, and had wort both provincial and Now Zealand championship" races- over thoe* distances* He was a- valuable momber of the Wet l lington Football and Star Boating! Clubs, and was for some time a. mem- 1 ber of the committee of the Wellington Boxing Association. a single man, ho was an enthusiastic long-dV" tance walker, and was one of an atta letic circle who used to spend thea* week-ends at Karaka and. Scorching Bays long before trams to Miramar were thought about. ' Ca,ptain Kay Strang, who 13 an* nounced as having been killed in was the secon3 son of Mr. and Mrs. John Strang, of Gleuside, Masterton. the deceased, who. was twenty-two' years of age, enlisted with the Main. Body, and served at Gallipoli, and was mentioned in dispatches _by Sir lan. Hamilton. He was exceedingly popular in the Wairarapa, and was a member of the Gladstone Football Club. Among 1 the active members of the Wellington College Old Boys' Cricket) Club who have volunteered for service or are at present serving are as follow:—Messrs. A. R. Baillie, E. Si Brialey, R. Christie, C. H. Hicksodj E. A. Morris (died of wounds), 0. A» Pilcher, A. Ronaldson, A. R. Stace, and A. J. Staples.; Mr. H. Shacklock, of Dunedin, is. si through passenger to Lyttelton by tha Riverina, which arrived from Sydney yesterday.Mr. H. Baldwin, chairman. ■of tltej Wellington Hospital and Charitable 5 Aid Board, has received a cable mes»' sage from Dr. Barclay (Superintendent) of the Hospital, who has been on hospital ship duty) stating that he will return to Wellington and resume his duties at the end of nest month. Captain Tanaka, the master of the Japanese - steamer Akita Maru, whioh is now in port, has in his possession a handsome piece of Bilver pkte which was presented'to him when, as second; officer of the steamer Wasaka Maru, he rescued a number of Chinese from fi junk, at considerable personal ;• risk. The presentation was made by the pas-i sengers of the Wasaka Maru as si token of their admiration.

Mr. John Puller, junr., senior mem'-' ber of the Wellington City Counoil, is* at present on a visit to the south. He" •n'ill return to Sydney shortly •with We wife (nee Miss Winnie Moar).