PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 132, 21 February 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Major-General Sir Alfred Robin, Comamndnnt of the Forces, is expected to return to Wellington from the south to-morrow morning. Tho Hon. A. T. Maginnity, who arrived in AVellington yesterday to attend tho Victoria College Council meeting, liold last evening, leaves for AYanganui to-day to attend tho meeting of tho Dominion Swimming Association to bo hold in that town. _ Ho is vifiopresident of tho association. A Press Association telegram from Auckland roports the death of Mr. Gerhard John Mueller, exTCommissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, and oxAasistant Surveyor-General, at tho age of 83. Mr. Mueller had been in New Zealand since 18G8, and had been connected with the Civil Service since 1865. Surgeon-General Henderson, Direc-tor-General of Medical Services, returned from the south yesterday morning, and procoeded on a visit of inspection to Awapuni Camp. Mr. Alexander Bell, M.A., has been appointed to tho vacant position of secretary of tho Education Dapartmont. Mr. Bell, who comes from South Canterbury, has had a verv varied and thorough oxporience of educational work. Ho has been a teacher, an inspector, secretary for tho Southland Education Board and the Board of G-ovornors of the Southland High Schools, and last of all ho has had three years in a high administrative poeition in the head oUico of tho Department.

Mr. J. B. Galtcnby, 8.A., of Wellington, who is now at Jesus College, Oxford, has been elected to a senior demyship at Magdalon College, for four years, to carry on research work on emcryological problems. Last year Mr, Gattenby took a first-class in zoology, and was appointed demonstrator in histology, filling the place of Dr. Scott, who went to the fronu.

In his annual report on the Wellington Tenohers' Training College, the principal states that six students were lulled in action during the year and fifteen wounded. The names of those killed were: Lieutenant A. V. Young, Sergeant G. Matheson, Sergeant J. Cuthbert, Lieutenant J. S. Marsden, Sergeant W. $• Rule, and Captain D. C. Bowler, M.C.

Mrs. Blythe, of Oriental Bay, has received cable advice that her son, Sergeant Sidney G. W. "Blythe, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Sergeant Blythe enlisted in England three years ago in the British Motor Transport Company, and went to Franco, where he was gassed. He recruited his health at the Manchester Recruiting Station, and thence proceeded to> South "Africa, where he has been for two years. Previous to leaving Wellington he was serving Iris articles to electric engineering with Messrs. Cederholm and Tolloy.

At the conference of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, the president (Mr. J. Blair Mason) referred to tho death, since last meeting, of four members:of that body. -Mr. T. S. Miller, of Invercargill, and Mr. "William Widdowson, district engineer; Nelson, had died, be said, and two-fine young men—Mr. 11. Metcalfe, ]un. (Auckland), and Mr. Tomlinsou, jun. (Greymouth), had laid down, tlieir lives in the cause of tho Empire. A motion of sympathy with tho relatives of those who have passed away was passed in silence, members standing.

Lieutenant Lewis Gully, youngest sou of Mr. H. V.'Gully,. solicitor, of Nelson, and cousin of Mr. Phil Gully, of Masterton, was killed in action., on February 11. .■ Tho late Lieutenant Gully joined the British Navy on the outbreak of war, and had been engaged of late in mine-sweeping and siibma-rine-hunting operations.

Tho Rev. J. H. Rogers, acting-vicar of Timaru, has received word that Mb only son, Major Victor Rogers, D.5.0., was killed by a high-explosive shell while walking away from Headquarters. It was only on December 5 that Major Rogers received from the King the decoration of the Distinguished Service Order' for conspicuous bravery on the Soninie, where ho took the first battery across the German line, and though wounded remained for two days in charge of two batteries.

News was received on Monday that Private Cecil Dixon, sou of Mr. Fred Dixon, of Collingwood Street, Nelson, died from wounds on February 6.. The deceased was attached to tho Twentyseventh Reinforcements, and -letters were received from him laet week stating that he was quite well. Hβ leaves a widow and two children. The lato Private Dixon was a member of the Nelson Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Maitai Bowling Club, and Robin Hood Court of Foresters.