PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 91, 10 January 1918, Page 5

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Right Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) went south last night. In the South Island he intends to visit two blocks of land at Southbridge and one at Middlemarch, which the Government intend to use for the settlement of returned soldiers on farms. He will be absent from Wellington for about six days.

Sir Joseph Ward left for thb south last evening to attend the funeral of the late Mr. C. Parata. He is expected back next week.

' Mr. J. G. Anderson, M.P. for Mataura, is at present in Wellington.

The body of the late Mr. Charles R. Parata, M.P., was placed on board the ferry steamer for Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, to be taken to tlio burying ground of his people 'at Pukoteraki, near Dunedin, for interment. Many of the friends of Mr. Parata took advantage of thci only opportunity that will be afforded them 1o pay their last respects to his memory by following in tho cortege to the steamer. The Ministry was represented by Sir Joseph Ward and the Hons. Mr. Herries, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Hanan. Several of the Wellington members of Parliament were present, and also a number of senior officers of the Public Service.

A Press Association cable message from Sydney states that Mr. H. Tapperel has resigned the news editorship, of the ''Daily Telegraph." Mr. Tapperel was at one time well known in Wellington, having commenced his journalistic career .on the "New Zealand Times/ , of which journal he was for some time editor.

The Hon. W. D. S. Mao Donald was unable to leave for Wellington last night owing to matters connected with the Government control of wheat supplies claiming his attention longer than had been expected.

Advice has been received that Trooper G. It. Deane, of Masterton, ivho is suffering from rheumatic fever, is still an inmate of the Cairo Hospital.

Major Norton Francis, C.M.G., DiTeotor of Base Records, returned from Christchuroh yesterday.

Lieutenant G. Gallaway has relin?uished his appointment as Assistant nfantry Instructor and has been attached to Headquarters Stalf, Trentbam Camp, for duty.

Captain, F. A. Hardy, Government Surveyor of Ships at Auckland, is at present in Wellington on a short holiday .visit.

Mr. A. W. Eames has been appointed Official Assignee at Christchnrch, in place of Mr. Kendall, the local representative of the Public Trust Office. Mr. A. D. Low, of Masterton, has been appointed Deputy-Official Assignee for the Wairarapa district, succeeding Mr. T. R. Allen, Public Trust agent.

Mr. F. H. Williams has resigned his position as engineer to the Masterton County Council. /

Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, some time member for Hawlce's Bay in t'n* House of Representatives, is leaving for Sydney shortly on a health-recruiting trip. Mr. Fraser had a somewhat severe iilness a little time ago, and he has not recovered normal health.

Mr. W. Newton, who lias been appointed to fill the vacant position af Conciliation Commissioner, the vacancy having been caused by the death of Mr. J. TC. Triggs, is to be stationed in the Wellington district. Mr. W. H. Ha-gger, at present Commissioner in Wellington, is to take over the late Mr. Tripgs's circuit, with headquarters at Christchurch.

The clerk to the Masterton County Council (Mr. F. G. Moore) has been granted an additional three months' leave of absence.

Among the- latest recipients of the Military Cross is Captain Leslie Taylor, nephew of Mrs. Fongere, of Ngaere. Captain Taylor is a Napier boy, and prior to enlisting followed liis trade of a plumber in that district. Ho joined up about two years ago and left with tlie Maori Contingent, having spent the intervening time in Eugland and France.

Mr. Thomas E. Wilson, of Taihape, IciiecL in a private hospital in Bowen Street on Tuesday. Deceased, who was between sixty and seventy years of age, commenced his New Zealand career as a compositor in Otago. Ho was instrumental in founding a number of country newspapers, the last being the "Taihape Times,", which be started at tlie foundation of that town. He leaves a widow and daughter.

Mr. John Connors, Crimean War veteran, who died at Ashburton last week, aged 81 years, enlisted at tho age of sixteen years in the 57th Foot Regiment. He fought through tho whole of tho Crimean campaign, and was a,t Inkermann and the fall of Sebaatopol. He was a member of the force under General Wyndham, which was repulsed from the Kedan Fort. Connors next volunteered for service in India, and was transferred to the 78th Foot Regiment. His regiment was> later transferred to China, and the deceased participated in the taking of the Tako Forts. The late Mr. Connors was an Imperial pensioner, and possessed the Crimean, Turkish, and Chinese Medals.

The death has occurred in tho Transvaal, at the ago of 33, of Lieutenant C. !A. Jeffreys, who was born at Oamaru, and spent the earlier part of his life at Nelson, where bis father still resides. Ho went to the Boer War at tho age of 16, serving for 15 months with tho Third Contingent. Returning home, he left New Zealand with tho Tenth Contingent as sergeant-major in 1902. The deceased was a splendid rifleman, and only ill-health prevented him from being a world champion. A brother, Hugh Jeffreys, was wounded at Mossines, and awarded the Military Medal, while another brother, Bernard, has been fighting since the commencement of the war, and has now a commission.

Mr. W. A. Flavell, who left last evening for Duncdin to take up iho position of general manager of the AVestport Coal Co., was farewelled by the members of the Central Club on tho eve- of his departure. Tho president of the club (Mr. J. G. Harkness) presented Mr. Flavell, on behalf of tho members, with a handsome dressing case, and in an appropriate speech wished him success in tho responsible position to which he had been appointed. The recipient, who was greeted with cheers, thanked his fellow club members for their good wishes, and stated that he would treasure the recollections of the Central Club where, during his membership of twenty years, he had spent many happy hours, made lifelong friends, whoso friendship he would cherish. Mr. Flavoll" was also the recipient of a token from tho members of the Advisory Board to tlio Government with which he is connected. '

Captain Charles H. Lovett, harbourmaster at the Bluff, whose death ivus recently reported, was the second son of Mr. F. H. Lovett, of the Ta'snianian Survoy Department, and was born at Hobart 64 years ago. On leaving the collegiate school he joined the whaling barge Aladdin, belonging_ to Mr. John M'Arthur, in whoso service he'remained for seven years, rising to the position of second mate. He obtained a master's certificate in 1878 and commanded the barque Bills and other vessels belonging to Mr. C. W. Turner, of Christchurch, until Ifi!)2. when he succeeded Captain N. Macdonald as harbourmaster at Bluff. He was a Past Master of Lodgo Fortitude No. (VI, N.Z.C., Bluff. Captain Lovett was married in 1881 to Miss Lucas, of Tasmania, and had five children, '

Tho death is reported of another pioneer, -Mr. R. L. C. Birch, J.P., formerly of Kimbolton, well known in tho early days of Marton. Born at Denbigh, Wales, he camo out to tho Australian diggings. After a few years ho landed at Dunedin (1865), was lured to tho West Coast by rumours of gold on tho Grey, and claimed to bo one of the first white men on that coast. Hβ went through the usual exciting ejtporionces, and was in tho midst of the operations of tho notorious Burgess gang. Mr. Birch eventually settled in the Rangitikei district.

A worthy and respected old settler and citizen of Auckland, Veteran Rowley Georgo Hill, N.Z.C., late of the Royal Navy and Colonial Forces (Forest Rangers) attained his 81st birthday on Sunday (says the "Star"). Born at Dawlish, Devon, England, he served on H.M. ships Britannia, Neptune, Termagant. Leopard, Shannon, Hannibal, and Euryalus, and was awarded tho "Cross" for gallantry in leading the assault on Jerusalem Pa during the To Kooti raid. Ho also holds the following medals: New Zealand, Baltic, Crimea, Turkish, Mutiny, Garibaldi's Rosette, Long Service, and two Royal Humane. It is fairly surmised that he holds more honours thaa any veteran in either tho Navy or Army.

Advice has been received by Mr. Howard J. S. Ellis, of Now Lynn, that his son, Flight-Lieutenant S. Howard Ellis, of the Royal Flying Corps, who was a prisoner of war in Germany, has been released'. Lieutenant Ellis was in Holland, about to start for London, when the cablegram from the High Commissioner was dispatched (says tho "New Zealand Herald"). Tho young Auckland airman took part in the great aerial raid which accompanied the opening of tho Somme offensive. Ho' was brought down by an anti-aircraft gun on July 3, 1916. He was hit in the left ■ leg, which was broken, and in tho right check. In a letter written from a German military hospital, Lieutenant Ellis said ho was mending rapidly.- He added that he had been treated with most wonderful kindness by all ranks throughout, from the man who lifted him out of his machine to tho "very able" surgeon who was then attending him. The holiday trade 'in Auckland is reported to have been equal to that of the <same season 12 months ago, and in some instances even better (says tho "Herald"). 'In the large retail drapery and millinery establishments of the city tho experience- has beon that the public havo had plenty of money, and have spent it freely, in spite of inoreased prices. Outfitters and clothiers dealing in men's wear report that the Christmas trade was fully equal to that of last year, though thero was subsequently a falling-olf. Dealers in jewellery, fancy goode, toys, and articles coming broadly under the heading of presents, reports that the holiday business was as brisk as it was a. year ago. Wholesale merchants aleo experienced'a very satisfactory season. The fact of so many men being at the front, and of a fair percentage of farmers having been .unable- this year to visit tho city, was oxpocted to affect trade adversely, but this anticipation does not seem to have been borne out. Neither did the higher railway fares and fewer trains result in a' smaller volume of-trade. Tho demand for all classes of goods was well sustained.

In a codicil to the will of Mr. Lazarus Hart, of Ram6gate, who died lately, tho testator devises to tho Mayor and aldermen of the borough of Ilamsgato, for the time being, an acre of laud belonging to him in Thanet Road. Hβ bequeathed to tho Mayor and aldermen £10,000 free of duty, for the purpose of erecting on the land 10 houses, to be known as "Havens of Rest," for 10 persons of either sex and of any age, five belonging to tho Jewish faith and five who are not Jews. Those persons who are of tho Jewish faith are to be nominated by the London Jewish Board of Guardians. The testator directs that not more than £3000 of tho £10,000 shall bo used for building tho "Havens of Rest," that £1000 "shall be invested, and tho incomo applied to keeping them in repair, and that the remaining £6000 shall be invested, and onc-tcnth of the income paid to tho inmates of each of the "Havens of Rest."