PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 16 January 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Tho Hou. Dr. M'Nab, Minister of Marino, who was in the Bownn Street Hospital last week, was able to get outdoors on Sunday, but yesterday lie had a slight relapse. Ho is likely to be laid up again for some days.

Tho Hon. Sir Francis Bell returned from the south yesterday.

Mrs. J. R. Erk, of Gisborne, N.Z., has been elected an Associate of the Royal Colonial Institute, London.

Mr. F. P. Talboys, tramways engineer and manager of tho Wanganui Corporation Tramways, arrived in town last evening for the purpose of attending the Tramway Conference called, by the Minister of Public Works lo discuss tho Tramways Act.

Mr. G. Winder, who has recently been very ill, is now woll'on tbe way to recovery.

Bombardier Charles E. Mains, of Sawyers' Bay, Diinedin, who wont away with the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has been awarded tho Military Medal for bravery in the field, and, subsequently, a ribbon for again distinguishing himself in tho great Somme offensive. This bravo young soldier has been congratulated by tho High Commissioner. Bombardier Mains has been further honoured by being choson by General Russell to form one of a group of New Zealand soldiers who figure in a painting of Now Zealand soldiers to be presented to the London Art Gallory.

Brigadier-General Sir A. W. Robin, Gonoral Officer Commanding the Forces, and Surgeon-Genetal Henderson, I\.H.P., Director-General of Medical Services, who have hoen on an offioial visit to Dunedin, have returned to Wellington.

Mr. W. L. Rothonberg, of Wellington, returned from Sydney by the Manukayesterda-y.

Mr. Charles Laurence, whose death lias been announced, was a member of th<* first All England Eleven, which visited Australia in 1861, and was afterwards coach to tho Melbourne Cricket Club. Mr. Laurence, who. was born on December 16, 1828, was a Middlosex man, bufc he played for Surrey, and was noted in England as a fast bowler. When tho linglish team returned to Great Britain on tho completion of tho tour, Mr. Lauronco settled in Sydney, where ho iicceptcd a position with the Albert Chili, at that timo tlie leading cricket club in Sydney. Subsequently bo served in the Railway Department in responsible positions. He represented Now South Wales in intercolonial matches from 1863 to 1870 with a. fair measure of success. Mr. Laurence captained the team oE aborigines which visited England in 1868. Subsequently, .in 1892, he was appointed coach to junior cricketers by the Melbourne Cricket Club, and for many years "Laurence's Colts" played many matches. It is believed that of tho English team of which Mr. Laurence was a member, the only survivor is Mr. William Caffyn, who now lives in England.

Mr. R. B. Morris, Chief Inspector of the Post and Telegraph Department, who has been in Auckland on official business, has returned to Wellington.

A Press Association rnessago , from Hokitika announces the death, after long illness, of Dr. Herbert M'Andrcw, a<*ed 57. Ho leaves a widow and three children.

Mr. C. K. Laycock. for many years shipping reporter on the Auckland "Herald," and latterly on the staff of the "New Zealand Yachtsman," goes into camp in February.

In a letter to his mother. Sergeant Noel Jennings, formerly of £ho "New Zealand Herald" staff, says of Sergeant Roland Armit (a son of Mr. J. B. Armit, of Austin Street, Wellington): "There aro several boys here who were in Rolie Armit's platoon in the N.Z.R.B. Strangely enough, one was a Nolson College boy, as Armit was. He told mo that they found Armit dead in a shell hole on the Somme with another of his platoon, a son of Judge Jones, alongside him. Both had been killed evidently by shell shock. They all speak so well of Rolioliere, and it is most unusua for anyone to speak well of a sergeant, so he must have been as good a soldier as ho was a reporter."