PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 74, 20 December 1917, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

™io "rime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) returned to Wellington yesterday after a visit to the northern "districts. _ Sir Joseph Ward will return from tho south this morning. Sir James Allnn, Minister of ■ Dofence, is expected to arrive in Wellington by the Napier express to-day. The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, loft for Napier yesterday. Ho lvilf return to Wellington tomorrow. , j Tho Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, has rnturned ti> Wellington after spending a fortnight in tho Bay of Plenty district. _Tho -Hon. C. .T. Johnston, Speaker of this Legislative Council,'Ttas returned to Now Zealand from America, where he has been for some months ou a health visit. Mrs. Johnston and her son, Lieutenant G. Johnston, have also ■ returned, the last-named for a brief holiday from the fighting-lines in France. Tlio Hon. Arthur M. Myers, Minis-ter-in-Charge of Munitions and Supplies, is visiting Auckland, where ho will-remain until after tho Now Year. Mr. Frank Meadowcroft. New Zealand representative for Cadbury Bros,, of Bournemouth, has returned to Wellington from a trip to England. . Tho Wellington Harbour Board last evening expressed 3ccp sympathy with Captain C. M'ATtliur, one of tlie mombers of the baord. in the loss of his son, who lias been killed at the war. Word has been received in Auckland flint Military Medals for gallantry on tho field of action have been awarded to Sergeant A. 11. Jeffs (formerly a Waikato school teacher; .'.and Sapper A. E. Taylor. One of Auckland's oiliest residents, Mr. John Henderson, died this week in his 79th year. Mr. John Mackay, formerly Government Printer, has arrived back from a trip to the Old Country. Mr. F. Mace, of Wellington, has been advised that his son-in-law, Lieutenant L. W. Bassett, who was reported as having been "gassed" in a recent action and confined to a hospital in France, had apparently recovered and returned to duty, as the latest advice' fs to the effect that he is in hospital again suffering from trench fever. Mr. Thomas Philpotts died at his residence, I'icton, on December 13, at the age of 82. The late Mr. Philpotts was uoru in Newfoundland in 1835. Ho went to Oxford to study for Holy Orders, and came out to Now Zealand: on tho ship Victory to Bishop IJarpsr, landing an Lyttelton in 1859. At the request of Bishop Hobhouso he went up to Nelson, and shortly afterwards was sent to Waitohi (Pieton) to open £ school in connection with the Church— the 'first school there. He married a daughter of tho lato Mr. James White, of Beaver (Blenheim) in 1861, on which occasion ho drove the first four-wheel-ed veMclo through the bush between the iwo settlements. Mr. Philpotts went to sea in 1863, returning to live, on shore in 1865. He bad lived in Pioton ever since. He was an enthusiastio volunteer in Lhe early days, and won many trophies for shooting, several times' representing 'his district in tho North and South Island shooting matches. He was captain of a company of volunteers at the Parihaka outbreak. Though never ordained, Mr. Philpotts always took the greatest in-, terest in all church matters. Ho wag an ex-choirmaster and churchwarden of Holy Trinity, and up to the time of his death" was a vestryman. Mr. Philpotts was one of the founders of the Masonio Lodge, Waitohi, of which lie became a: Past Master, and he was also a founder of the Waitohi Forresters' Lodge in 1874. He convened tho meeting which formed the Picton Bowling Club, and while his health permitted it got a good deal of enjoyment from the game. He was the club's first president and its onlv life member.

The late Sir. Frederick William Butler, whose death occurred on Sunday last, after a lengthy illness, was one of New Zealand's early colonists. He was born in London 74 years ago, and in his earlv nanhood was a teacher at the National Society's school. His health became unsatisfactory, however, and he decided to migrate to New Zealand. A passage was made in the ship Barah (Captain Heiho),.and Auckland was reached in 1575. Oil the outward journey the late Mr. Butler continued teaching but 011 arrival at Auckland, having Tiad experience in the saddlery trade, he found employment with Mr. Wiseman, saddler. After three months in the northern city ho came south, and was the first foreman for the late Mr. M'Vay, saddler, Napier. Afterwards he transferred to Waipukurau, where ho remained for five years. He was prominent in the Church of England there, and was superintendent of the Sunday school. On coming to Wellington ho was engaged by Mr. W.- Wiggins, with whom iio remained for many years. Ho became very prominent in Labour circles, particularly at tho time of tho IS9O strike, the early troublo at the l'etono Woollen Mills, and the bakers' dispute. He did much towards securing an amicable settlement of disputes, for 110 had the confidence of all _ parties. Tho late Sir. Butler leaves a widow and fire sons—Messrs. F. W. Butler (Newtown), W. J. Butler (detective, Hastings), A. C. Butler (Palmerston North), Ernest Butler (Palmerston North), and Gus Butler (Defence Department, Wellington). Tho funeral took place on Tuesday, the Rev. Mr. Fancourt being th» officiating clergyman. Scrgeant-Major W. E. Hall, formerly a eliomist in tho employ of C. A. Fletcher, of Lambton Quay, and well known in hockey circles; lias had rather an interesting experience. When the war god clanged his gone, Scrgeant-Major Hall enlisted and went to Samoa with tho first Expeditionary Force. On returning 110 went away as dispenser on tho hospital ship Maheno. After that vessel finshed her first commission ho returned to New Zealand, and went away again in the hospital ship Marama. Now he is a member of the medical section of tho Thirtv-tbird Reinforcements. Mr. Robert Williamson, touring manager for J. C. Willaimson, Ltd., is at present in Wellington making the preliminary arrangements for the coming Marie Tempest season.