PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 139, 1 March 1918, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

The acceptance &f tho Right Hon. W. F. Massey's lesignation of lus oflice of Minister of Lands and tho appointment of the Hon. D. H. Guthrie to the portfolio are published in the Gazette.

His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in New Zealand (Mr. E. W. Dalton) has received instructions from the Imperial Government to proceed to the Pacifio Islands for the purpose of making an investigation of their present commercial position and future trade- prospects. Mr. Dalton expects to leave fpr Suva early in April. Mr. 0. A. Ralston, who has held the position of Government auditor-inspec-tor for Otago and Southland for the past nine years, has been transferred to Christchurch.

Word has been received that Private Andrew Hughes,' son of Mr. A. A. Hughes, Collingwood Street, Nelson, has been awarded tho.Military Modal for gallantry on the Western front. Private Hughes served on Gallipoli, sinco when ho has been continuously on duty on the Western front, with the exception of nine days' leavo in England.

Mr. Richard B. Haybittlo, of Wellington, celebrated his ninety-fourth birthday on Monday last, and was thn recipient of many congratulations from friends and relatives. Mr. Haybittle, who still enjoys fairly robust health, resides with his daughter, Mrs. David Scott, Woolcomhe Street.

D'Arcy H. SToir, an ex-pupil of Mosjjriol High' School, headed the list in New Zealand of the cadets who qualified for admission to tho Duntroon Military College.

Private H. J. Edwards, wounded on February 18, is the only son of Mrs. A. Edwards, of No. 51, Martin Square, Wellington.

Sergeant-Mnjor J. 11. M'Cardell, youngest eon of the late Mr. 11. T. M'Cardcll, who left Now Zealand with tho Main Body, lias been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for gallantry on tho field of action. He has thren brothers at the front, Sergeant Ernest and Edgar M'Cardell, who left with tho Twenty-second Reinforcements, and Private Harry M'Cardell, who sailed with the Fourteenth Reinforcements and has been recently wounded. In reply to cabled inquiries, Mr. C. Scully, of Port Nelson, has been informed that it is believed that his son Albert has been lost at sea. TheTeseel on which ho was an engineer is supposed to have been sunk with all hands. Another son, Ernest, was killed at the front. Mr. P. H. Hyndman, building overseer in tho service of the Public Works Department at Dunedin, has heen transferred to Christchurch. Tho members of the Williamson Musical Comedy Company, which has just concluded a tour of New Zealand, passed through Wellington yesterday. Advice was received yesterday that 2nd Lieutenant I. Norriss, 6/701, was wounded in France on February 16. Lieutenant Norriss has seen 2£ years' nctive service in Gallipoli and France. He left with tho Main Body as a corporal, and rose to tho rank of warrant officer on the field. Ho came hack in November, 1917, for a commission, leaving New Zealand again with the Twenty-eighths. He has heen back in France since December 1 last. His Excellency the Governor-General directs it to be notified that the Con-sul-General of Russia at Melbourne has accepted the resignation of Mr. TJ. F. M'Cabo as Vice-Consul of Russia at Wellington and of Mr. J. Paterson as Viee-Consul of Russia at Auckland. The business of Messrs. A. T. Bate and C. E. Finch, so lonp; conducted in Nathan and Co.'s building, has been merged into that of Messrs. S. George Nathan and Co., Mr. Charles E. Finch having entered into partnership with Mr. Nathan for the purpose of conducting tile two businesses as one. Dr. Neville J. Davis, who has been living in Mexico, has left for Australia, where he intends to reside.