PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Tho Rev, S. Beckinghain, of Canterbury, Melbourne, has accepted the invitation to the pastorate of the Vivian Street Baptist Church. Mr. C. C. Mac Gibbon; owing to continued ill-health, has tendered his resignation as manager of the Danuevirko branch of the Bank of New South Wales. Mr. Mac Gibbon's banking career extends over twenty-one years. Prior to going to Dannevirke he was manager at Oamaru, while earlier he held positions in Invorcargill. Mr. Mac Gibbon's wife wa6 killed a few months ago as tho result of falling over the Bluff Hill cliffs. ■' Mr. Alfred East, who was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry under fire, wheu a member of tho Medical Corps at Gallipoli, has rejoined the teaching stall of the Clyde Quay School.

In the Treasury Department, Government Buildings, yesterday afternoon, a presentation was made to Mr. S. Fraser and Mr. King. The former, after sixteen years' service, is now retiring, and Mr. King is about to bo married. Colonel G. F. C. Campbell (Secretary to the Treasury), in a happy speech bade farewell to Mr. Fraser, and presented him, on behalf of his fellow-officers, with a travelling-bag and rug, and Mr. King was the recipient of some table silver.

Among the returned New Zealand soldiers who arrived last Saturday was Signal Sergeant Alonzo P. Dwan, who loft with the 3rd Rifle Brigade. Sergeant Dwan was wounded and gassed at Ploegsteert Wood, and eventually found himself in the AValton-on-Thames, London. He speaks highly of tho kind treatment of tho English people, and specially Major Perkins, of Somerset, who takes a keen interest in New Zealandcrs.

Cable advice has been received by Mrs. H. J. M'Kenzie, of Clarevillc, that her husband, Corporal H. J. M'Keuzie, who was severely wounded on October 4, and has been in hospital ever since, is returning to New Zealand. A Press Association telegram received from Oamaru announces tho death yostcrday morning of Sir Henry John Miller, formerly Speaker of the Legislative Council, in his 88th year. The late Hon. Sir Henry John Miller was a direct descendant of Sir Thomas Miller, M.P., for Chichester, who was created a baronet in 1705. His father was the late ltev. Sir Thomas Miller, Bart., of Hampshire, England, and he was bom in 1830, at Froyle, Alton, Hants, and educated at Eton. At the ago of 30 years he arrived in Otago from Sydney by the ship City of Sydney, and was after that engaged in pastoral pursuits, and later in the mining industry. His entry into public life was as a member of the Provincial Council of Otago, .in which ho represented Oamaru, and for about two years ho held office in tho Executive as Secretary for Public Works. Tho Weld Ministry nominated him for the- Legislative Council on July 8, 1865, and he sat as a member of tho Executive Council of the Fox-Vogel Government in 1872. On July 8, 1892, Sir Henry was elected Speaker of tho Legislative Council in succession to Sir Harry Atkinson, and held the position until June, ICO3. His marriage to Miss Orbell, of Waikonaiti, took place in 1864, and there were six children of the union. i

A Press Association telegram from Greymouth states that Mr. Carson, who only arrived on January 31 to take charge of the engineer's office, New Zealand Railways, and relieve Mr. liaskings, who had retired from service, died suddenly just after lunch .yesterday. The late Mr. Carson came lrom Hillside Workshops, Dunediu, and was nl>oufc fifty vears of ape. The cause of death' was heart failure, accompanied bv a severe eold. The body will be ta'ien to Dnneclin for burial.