PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

Referring to Sir Walter Buchanan's retirement from the Wellington Education Board, the chairman (Hon. J. G. W. Aitken) in his annual report says:— "The decision of Sir Walter Buchanan not to seek re-election, whic'h terminated a period of. educational service of over 3i years as a board member, was received with universal feelings and expressions of regret. It was generally recognised that .while he brought to the consideration of every question a Tine and impartial judgment, it wae to the improvement of the' educational opportunities of the back-country settler's child that his most earnest, bis most persistent, efforts were diected. the board placed on record its warm appreciation of the educational services of Sir Walter Buchanan."

Nows has been received by his sister, Mies Dempsey, of Wellington,-that.Tier brother, Sergeant Sidney W. Dempsoy, formerly of the teaching staff of the Clyde Quay School, has died of wounds ■received in tho recent sanguinary battle in Flanders. Sergeant Dempscy, who was the youngest son of the late jfr. W. Deiupsey," of Wellington, was born in 18S0. He attended the Clyde Quay School, and on completing his course there lx>caine a pupil teacher in tho school, and was second assistant when lie joined the Forces on September G. 11)15. He left Now Zealand with the Ninth Reinforcements, N.Z Rifle Brigade, and has since seen considerable service in Egypt and France. ReYgeant T>mpspy' was nn enthusiast in eport, being a' very capable footballer and cricketer liiniself.Playing for Wellington Enst, ho lielil moro than one century to his credit. His influence in regard to spoTt was very vahiablo at the Clyde Quay School, whero he was extremely -mpular. Tn token of rcsnect to his memory Hie scholars of the upper standards of tho school -cDnJ-wl work an hour earlier on Thursday afternoon.

Mrs. Juries,- of-Wellington, has been sidvised that her husband. Lieutenant ■Max .Tiiriss. wiio-bas- been- a. prisoner in Germany for a year past, has been removed from Essen to Harz. At the latest, advice h<? was quite well and'cheerful.

Gunner Harold Waldo ' Abernethy, whose death on June 1!) from wounds is reported, was tho second ton of Mr. Joseph Abomethy, .for. many, years a momber of tho technical fitaft of the "Otago Daily Times," and draughts editor of tire "Otago Witness." Latterly Mr. Abernethy entered' into- business- as an art dealer in George Street, Dunedin. On completing his educational course at the Albany Street School> Dunedin, Gunner Abernethy joined the stall of Messrs. Ross and Glendimngs loot-. w«ir (lopartmont, but- previous to his enlistment with the Eijrfcth Eeinforceniente left that firm and was appointed to the position of town traveller ■ for Messrs Sarjood, Son, "nd Eiven. As a voiing man. Gunner Abernethy was particularly bright and promising, and as a soldier he was keen, and a general favourite among-st his comrades The late Runner was a nephew of Captain h. Vine, of the Now Zealand Defence Forces-ttio second nephew to loso his lifp in action, the first' bcihfr Serpcant LeslieJames Bißsland. who was posthumously awarded tho Military Cross.

Mr Robert Williamson, tourmg manacer for .T G. Williamson, Ltd.. arrived in Wellington yesterday morning, to make .arrangements'.for the _ production - ot "Daddy Long Legs'."- ..'. .. .

'"Mr. "Alfred Mace, "who is" to conduct special evangelistic meetings, in the Town, Hall Concert Chamber, beginning tomorrow evening, 'will an ive from Auck« land to-dny. Mr. Mace's services at Auck- , lniul were largely attended, and many, testimonies as to help received havebeeii given. At Palmereton North, Napier, and Hastings a. largo tent was used fop the meetings, and the congregations were frequently too' large for the nccomnioda.tioh.

Mr. Joseph MacMahon telegraphs from' Vuckland that ho has received news o& the death of his brother, Mr. Charles MacMahon in Melbourne. The deceased was the youngest of the three Messrs. MacMahon, whose name, has been associated with theatrical enterprises in Australia and New- Zealand for- the past thirty-five years. Charles-was associated; with* his la'te brother .Tames in the MacMahon and Leit.ch Dramatic Company, which first introduced "The Silver King to Wellington, and for years afterward? there was always a MacMahon Dramatio Company on the' road somewhere in Australasia." One of the Inst companies which Mr Charles Mao-Mahon introduced played "The Kelly Gans" nnd "Tor the Term of- Ms Natural Life..'- , -' Mr. Charles MacMabon was the first.-to introduce the continuous picture- show-to Wellington in the litlle New Theatre in Manners; Street," of which he was "the lessee for a few years. He afterwards felt the> "call of'the-road," sold out, and went lo Australia, and a.-few-months, aqo it was rumoured that lie intended to bring over 'another dramatic comnanv. but the idea never materialised. Mr. .MacMahon. was sociable and witty, resourceful and good-humoured, and his death will lo sincerely reeretted by many who knew, him in'.■Wellington. ....

■ Private Stephei B-. -Main,- of New Plymouth, who was killed in action on. June 8.. -was 27 years of age,. \ married: .man. and a member-of. the Sixteenth Reinforcements. He was -bom aDd educated, in New Plymouth, where lie was highly esteemed by a wide circle of- acquaintances.- Ho "had the -reputation of being an excellent footballer and cricketer, ana was selected in important matches. Prior to enlisting he was employed for several years at the Blenheim Oil Bore. A brother of-deceased also- voluntarily enlisted, and is at the front. Mr* U. Johnson, of Pahiatun, is a.-sister of the late .Private. Main.