PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2986, 25 January 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. W. Eraser, Minister of Public AVorks, is on a.visit to tho West Coast on Departmental business. Mr. D. A. Aitken, general manager of the Union Company, arrived in Wellington from the south yesterday morning. Mr. A. AV. Bennett, general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, was a passenger b'y the same vessel. Mr. AV. H. L. Foster will assume the duties of headmaster ' at the Clyde Quay School when it reopens on Tuesday next. Applications to JiTl the position ho has vacated—lieadnastoisliip of the Petone District High School —will close to-day. Lieut. H. G. Morton arrived from Christchurch this morning. He is staying at the Einpiro Hotel. Mr. S. 6. Smith, of Now Plymouth, has been nominated by three districts for the seat on the North Island Bailway Appeal Board.—Press AssociationMr. C. F. Thomas, of the City Leases Commission, went south last ovening.. The remains of the late Mr. Wilfred H. Didsbury were interred in the cemetery of St. Mary's Churob,' Karon, yesterday morning. The funeral, which ■was a private one, left the residence of Mrs. George Didsbury, Wellington Terrace, after a short service had been conducted by the Eev. A. M. Johnson, M.A., Vicar of St. Paul's, who also officiated at services in St. Mary's Church and at the graveside. The chief mourners were Messrs. H. M. Didsbury, Napier; K. J. Didsbury, Palmerston North; Guy Didsbury. Wellington (brothers of tho deceased); and Messrs. H. W. .Moss'and Guy Fultou (brothers-in-law). Amongst others present were the. officers of the Dental Association.' Mr. Gerald Stead, who has been twice rejected for active service, has offered his services to the Defence Department without pay for tho duration of the war, in any capacity. Dr. Morice, who was Acting-Superin-tendent of Wellington Hospital during Dr. Barclay's absence at the front, has gone to the Manawatu district on holiday leave. On his return he'will take charge of tho Victoria Military Hospital, Wellington South. Prior to his departure for the front. Private J. R. Johnston was presented with a cheque by Mr. A. P. Smith, on behalf of the firm of James Smith, Ltd. A set of pipe 3 and a quantity of tobacco were also presented by Mr. Pear from the employees. The Rev. G. AV., J. Spence, formerly Methodist minister in Palmerston North, is seriously ill in Auckland. Corporal Gordon Abercrombie, killed in action with thcAVellington troops on January 9, was the only son of Mr. D. A. Abercrombie, New Zealand manager of the Queensland Insurance Co. Corporal Abercrombie was an old boy of Wellington College, where he took a prominent part in football and athletics. Prior to his enlistment he was farming on Mr. Hammond's station at Lismore, Manganui. He left "as a trooper with the -West Coast Reg l .-; ment of the AVellington Mounted Rifles (Main Body), and was wounded on Gallipoli again in the operations in Ugypt. A tribute of respect to the late Mrs. Frost (wife of the chairman of the City Reserves Committee) was tendered oy the nurserymen's conference yesterday. Subsequently it was decided to send a wreath. ■' Mr. J. B. Clarkson has returned from a two months' visit to Australia. Mr. and Mrs. Aldworth, of Sydney, are visitors to AVellington. Mr. AidWorth was formerly a director of tho Sydney "Referee" and "Sunday Times" Company. It.is their intention to pay a visit to Tahiti before returning to Australia. : The State_ schools of the AYcUington education district reopen on Tuesday morning next. The late Mr. .AVilliam Hartley, of Petone, was ono of the pioneer bridge builders for the Manawatu Railway Co. He camo to AVellington in the sailing ship Dallon Tower in 1875. Thirty years ago he settled in Potone, and later on established a joinery business. He leaves a widow and a grown-up family of sis daughters and four sons and 'fifteen grandchildren. The funeral took place yesterday. Mr. J. Watson Brown, general manager of tho Singer Sewing Machiuo Co., is at present visiting New Zealand, andis staying at tho Royal Oak Hotel. . SirjGeorgo Williams, tho founder of the T.M.C.A., was a Somerset man, uorn at Dulverton, and in recognition of tho fact a number of leading men in THat country havo organised a memorial to his momory for erection in_ tho Shiio Hall, Taunton. A commission was given to Sir Georgo Frampton, R.A., to prepare a bust for tho purpose, and tin's will be unveiled on October 16 by the. Lord-Lieutenant of Hie county (tho Marquis of Bath). The bishop of Bath and Wells and ths 3tayor of Taunton havo also promised ,fQ/|a&e, p,ai;fc in iho '

At last evening's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, the chairman, Mr. C. E. Banicll, moved: "That the board receives with regret the n«ws that on December 29, 1916, the death occurred of Mr. William Prince, who for a period of over thirty-seven years had been uninterruptedly connected vith the wharves under the lessees, the City Corporation, and tho board, and as wharfinger under the board from January, 1884, to December 31, 1905." It had been very gratifying, said Mr. Daniell, to note at the deceased's funeral the tribute of respect paid to the old man's memory. The board resolved to convey to the widow and relatives of the late Mr. Prince an expression of sincere sympathy, and to place on record an appreciation of his long and faithful services.