PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3069, 3 May 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

His Excellency tho Governor went to Avondale 011 Monday morning and inspected the camp of the 3rd, Auckland, Mounted Rifles. Their Excellencies the Earl and. the Countess of Liverpool entertained Madame Melba, and Lady Susan FitzClarence at lunch at Government House. In the afternoon Their Excellencies entertained 25 invalided soldiers from the hospital annexe and 12 from the Dcvonport Convalescent Home. Hearing that tho soldiers were beinac entertained at Government House, Madamo Melba volunteered to sing, and delighted the men with several songs. The Hon. Sir James Allen loft last night for Dunedin. He intends to he back in Wellington 011 Sunday morniug. The Hon. W. Fraser leaves to-day for Hamilton. "Ho will return to Wellington on Saturday. Private advice received in Wellington yesterday .Teported the death in England of Captain W. Burvill Holmes, a master of the Shaw, Savill and l Albion Line, who is well known in New Zealand. The advice did not state what the cause, of death had been, hut only that he had died about the end of February. The late Captain Holmes was a' member of the lloyal Navy Reserve, He was a man of ab.out 50 years of age, and had been associated! with the Shaw-Savill Lin© for about 32 years.. During that time he commanded tho Tokomaru, Matatua, Karamea, and his last vessel was the Waimana, a well-known New Zealand trader. He leaves in England a wife and son. The son is a doctor serving at the war.

It is announced that 'Colonel H. Hart, D.5.0., 17th (Ruahine) Regiment, has been appointed to command the recently created 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade, with the rank of "Brigadier-General. The new BrigadierGeneral nine years ago was an actinglieutenant in the Carterton Rifle Volunteers. He was promoted to lieutenant on December 19, 1908, and on the formation of the Territorial Army received his majority in the 2nd Battalion, 9th Regiment, which was subsequently converted into the 19th (Ruahine) Regiment. Ho left for the front with the Main Body, N.Z.E.F., .with, the rank of Major, in Ootobor, 1914, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel and given command of the Wellington Battalion, vice Lieut.-Col. Malone, who was killed in action on, August 8, 1915. He was awarded the D.S.O. for his services on Gallipoli. In December, 1916, lie was granted tho temporary, Tank of and temporarily commanded the New Zealand Rifle Brigado during tho absence of Brigadier-Gen-eral Fulton.

Mr. A. G. Melville, sub-manager of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, Limited, has arrived in New Zealand from Australia with the object of paying a visit of inspection to tho branches and agencies throughout tho Dominion. Mr. Melville intends to reinain ir. New Zealand for a few weeks. At the last meeting of tile Navy League the chairman took advantage of the opportunity to present to Mr. R. Darroch the Spcoial Service Decoration which has been awarded to him • by the Homo Office of the League. Mr. Harcourt referred in very compliment tar.v terms- to the services rendered by Mr. Darroch during the 11 years in which he has been ai) active member of tho Executive Committee. Special reference was made, to the successful manner in which tlio work of tho j league has been promoted throughout the schools in the district, a great deal of tho credit for the result being due to Mr. Darroch's efforts. Mr. C. R. Smith and Mr. C. W. Palmer also spoke. In reply Mr. Darroch expressed appreciation of tho remarks of the speakers and stated that he felt vory proud at being selected by the Homo Office to" be tho recipient of the houour. Ho looked upon it also as a compliment to the Wellington branch of tho league for the work which thoy had dono on behalf of British seapower. . Mr. I!. R, M'Gregor, of Invercargill has been appointed commercial master at the Hamilton High School. Mr., John Bishop enjoys the unique distinction of haviug served for 36 years without a "break on tho Higholiff (Hawks's Bay) Sohool Committee.