PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 152, 16 March 1918, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

A Press Association telojraia lro/n Dargawllo states Ui«': unj Hon.' (~ W. Husswl, Minister, of Internal'.Affairs, armed mere yesieiUay aUeruoon from Vi'iianga'rci,' and was welcomed to the distiict by.the members of local bodies: He visited To liopuru. Hospital, where the members oi iin: board laid, before him many matters connected with the institution. Later he received l deputations in the Borough Chambers regarding the establishment of a maternity home in Dargaviile, to which he regretted he could\not.accede, as tiie main hospital accommoda-tion-.was only six miles distant. ', In regard to- the shortage of benzine for the dairy industry, be promised to lay the matter immediately before Mr. Massey. The Minister left.for Helensvillo in the evening, where he.. will to-day receive a. deputation from the Town Board, and will visit the hot. springs, and leave for Auckland bv the midday train.

It was mentioned in The Dominion some months ago that the Military Cross had been conferred upon a young Wellington doctor who is with' the British Army—Captain Eric Corkill, of. Oriental Bay. "The Times" of January 11 contains the War statement of service, as follows: —"Military Cross.—Captain Thomas Frederick' Corkill, R.A.M.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of a forward bearer party. He worked continuously • for four daj - s Tinder heavy shell fire, evacuating the wounded and setting his men a_ magnificent example of Courage and disregard of danger. He personally led parties beyond the advanced aid j-'osts' to collect the wounded, and his gieat zeal and energy enabled him to- overcome very serious transport difficulties. 1 ' Captain Corkill lias another decoration, that of Chevalier of the Order of Leopold, conferred upon him ly the 'King of the Belgians for having, on another occasion, displayed "conspicuous gallantry and great organising ability." He is now serving on the Italian front.

A Press Association cable message from London states that Ernest Wild, who was a member of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, has been killed on a mine-sweeper in the Mediterranean.

Information has been received that Flight-Commander Keith L. Caldwell, of the Royal Flying Corps, has attained his majority, and will in future hold The rank of flight-major. Ho is.'the only son of : Mr.. : D... R. Caldwell, a member of the firm of Mackv, Logan>Caldwell, Limited. Flight-Major Caldwell was formerly employed on the staff of the Auckland branch of the Bank of New Zealand. He was one of the first pupils to graduato at the New Zealand Flying School, at Kohimarama. Since he has been in France be has, says tho Auckland "Heraldj" personally destroyed five enemy 'machines, and has had over 50 aerial contests. Ho lias displayed excellent skill and great bravery. On Aurrnst fi, 1917, it was. announced in London that he had been awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when loading offensive patrols. On one occasion he led a patrol of five machines against 12 hostile aircraft, all of which were driven down out of control. Flight-Major Caldwell is now commanding a squadron in France.

The death occurred yesterday in a private liosnit.il of Mr; Dave Sullivan-, one of the best-known hotelkeepers in the Dominion. Mr. Sullivan, who was a native of Otago. wn's about 54 years of ago. Ho loaves threo daughters and one son. The son is at'preseht serving in the Navy.

Mr. Geoffrev Nye. senoral manager of the New Zealand Picture Supplies Co., Ltd., has severed his connection with that company, and left for Australia.

Sergeant Alfred Caddick, formerly on the staff of the Wellington College, and a vrelWcnown member of the Choral Union, has arrived back in Wellington from the front, having been wounded in action. '

The general esteem in which the late Mr. Fred Eillman was held was evidenced by the large attendance at lis' funeral on Thursday. An impressive service was held in the TaranakiStreet Methodist Church, and subsequently 1 at the graveside at Karori, the Rev. J. G-. Chapman officiating on each o-ca-sion.' The chief monrners were: Messrs. Fred and Walter Bilhnan (sons of tho deceased), Mr. James Wilson (son-in-law), and Mr. Ernest Knight.