PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday attended the intercessory service at St. Andrew's Church, The Terrace. Sir Joseph and Lady, Ward arrived in Wellington j-csterday morning from Christchurch. Sir James Allen arrived in Wellington j'esterday morning from Dunedin. The Hon. Sir William Fraser and Miss Fraser returned to Wellington yesterday from the South Island. Tho Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister-in-Ohargo of Munitions and Supplies, is expected to return from Aucklaud by to-day's express. The Bt. Rev. Dr. Sprott (Anglican Bishop of Wellington) is at present on a visit to Nelson. Mr. A. Gray, K.C., and Mrs. Grnv have returned from a visit to Hawke's Bay. Colonel and Mrs. Neave returned to Wellington by the ferry steamer from Lyttelton yesterday. Dr. and Mrs. Baldwin were passengers from the south by tho Maori yesterday.

Blr. M. F. Marks.. Government Printer, who lias been staying at Hanmer Springs over the holidays, returned to ■Wellington yesterday. Mr. C. J. Ward ami family, of Cliristchurch, arrived in Wellington yesterday morning. „ ' Mr. \L A. Kvn, lately manager for tlio Union Steam Ship Company in Fiji, who has been appointed manager of the Commonwealth Steamship Line, is a native of Dimcdin, and joined the Union Company's service, there as a youth. He rose- rapidly in his profession, and was later on appointed chief clerk in the company's Auckland branch, and then at Melbourne In later years ho was manager of the company's branches at Strahan, fclobart, and Sura. Sergeant Percy Bctiton, a Icavhcrston old boy, and well known in Wellington, as a member- of the statr ot Mews K. W. Mills and Co., who served on Gallipnli and in Flanders-he was a Main Body man—returned to Ins homo on Friday night. A younger brother, severely wounded at \prcs. Private Leslie Benton, reached Featherstou earlier in the week. j

Captain George CVawsliair, for many years traffic superintendent of the Union Steam Ship Company in Sydney, died at Mosman, Sydney, last week. The late Captain Crawsliaw had been closely identified with the steamers of the Union Company's lino sinco 1878, <W during his career successfully commanded most of tho "red" funnel fleot, being regarded as one of tho most capable officers in the service. For many years ho was in the South Sea Island' trade, and later commanded the steamers in tho intercolonial trade. In 1905 ho took up the position of traffic superintendent for the company in Sydney and remained in that position until 1914, when he retired. Sinco retiring ho rendered valuable service to the Commonwealth Navy Department, and was selected to. take the steamer Aornugi.home to England on behalf of the Navy. For the last three years he acted as pilot for the Union Com-, pany's steamers in Sydney. The lato Captain Orawshaw was G3 years of age. Ho leaves a widow and three daughters.

A private cable message received brings news of the death in action of Captain Cedric Cuthbert Godhard, D.5.0., of tho Royal Engineers, fourth son of Sir Alfred and Lady Godhard,of London, England. Captain Godhard was formerly consulting engineer for the firm of Arnißtrong-Whitworth lit New Zealand, and was home in England, on leave when war broke out. Ho at once enlisted in tho Royal Engineers, and soon gained a commission. Ho was awarded tho D.5.0.-for his work during tho advance on Kut el Amara. Ho was one of six brothers, all of whom volunteered, arid of whom five have made the supreme sacrifice. Lieutenant Heury Godhard, M.C., was killed at, Belles m 1915; Brigadier-General Archibald boahard was mortally wounded at Neuvo Chapclle; Major "Norman Godbard, 21st Lancers, was killed m. France, Private Eric Godhard was reported missing in Flanders. Lieutenant Anthony Godhard, of the Royal Hoise Artillery and Australian Artillery, dia sole surviving son, is at present on a visit to New Zealand Captain Godhard was a cousin of Mr. Jas. Godhard, of Hangaroa, near Gisborne. Mr. W. H. Bagger, Conciliation Commissioner, who has been tc, Christ, church in connection with the L.as Company's dispute, returned to Wellington'on Saturday. He .will leave for Nelson on Wednesday in connection with the. Nelson labourers' oV pute. Lieutenant Edward Levieu, of the fill Wellington Mounted Sines, who SwHhUe Main Body as sergeant nd received 'tis promotion on the field, has returned on duty. Besides of Lower Hutt. Mr. Thomas Moffatt, of Hanu ton, has received notice from Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, that Ins &£s£& loft New Zealand with the. Serenft 'Reinforcements (Waikato Mounted.; . His brother, Sergeant Georgo <kla<"»V Moffatt who also-left ,vith the Seven h Reinforcements, and who gamed Ins str nes in France, was twice mentioned for P an a™ ari for'gallantry at Messes and also at Gravenstafe, where he wa killed in action while leading his pta toon on the morning of October 4. He left New Zealand with the Wellington Infantry. Mr H. Moston, Chief of the Labour Department at Auckland, has been appointed cliief clerk in the head office at Wellington. Major A. D. Stitt, M.C.,announced as having received the D.5.0., is a son of tho late Mr. Matthew Stitt, of Ashburton, and was educated at Christ's College, where ho was a wavs identified with all sorts of athletic sports, particularly football. Ho was at Lincoln College when war broke out, and left with the Canterbury Battalion of the Main Body, and served through the Gallipoli campaign, whero he made a namo for himself as an efficient and daring officer. On going to France promotion came to him rapidly, and in tho Messines battle had had charge of a battalion. He lias been wounded on more than one occasion. He is twenty-four years of age.

Mr B F Curtis, who Las been well known iii the Ashburton County for the last thirty years as an auctioneer, died in Christchurch on Thursday morning, after a short illness. The late Mr. Curtis, who was 48 years ot age, commenced liis career with tuo late Mr. David Thomas, and became an auctioneer when quite young. The business was purchased by the national Mortgage and Agency Co. in 1908, and Mr. Curtis continued in his Bamo capacity, holding tho position until quite recently. In Ins younger days Mr. Curtis was-a keen sportsman nnd a .champion amateur cyclist, having established the present record between Asliburton and Methvcn. Ho was also a keen polo player. For many years he was clerk of the course for tho Asliburton Racing and Trotting Clubs, and was also a steward and a member of tho committee of tho Trotting' Club. He was a member of tho Ashburton Industrial Building Society, and a president of the Ashburton Club for many years. He leiwes two sons. His father, Mr. A. GiMs, died recently.

Mr. James Miller, who leaves Dunedin to-day to take up his now duties as Cleric of the Court at Masterton, was farewelled on Friday by the social workers of Duucdiii, and presented by Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., on their behalf with a silver-mounted umbrella. Lance-Sergeant Harold Arthur. Johnston, killed in action, was the son of Mr. A. Johnston, of tho Papamn Hotel. He was 2-5 years of age, an* was born and educated at Wellington, where ho subsequently entered the stores office of the Post and lelegraplt Department. He remained there for seven wars, resigning when he was sub-nccounrant to go to Chnstchurcb to assist his father. He was a imminent sportsman, and when at Wellington played for tho Karon and Oriental Football Clubs, and also for tho Post and Tologr.iph Cricket Club. He went away with the Nineteenth Reinforcement. Mr. Bernard F. Page, Wellington city organist, has been on a visit to Christchurch.