PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 195, 7 May 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir James Allen, Minister, of Defence, is leaving for the north to-day. Sir William Eraser, Minister of Public Works, left for 'the South Island Inst night. Ho intends to visit Otira, and he will bo back in Wellington on Friday morning. Mr. T. H. Lowry, of Hastings, is at present on a visit to Wellington. Tho council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce yesterday elected Mr. J. G. Harkness as president and Mr. T. U. Dawson vice-president for the ensuing year. Messrs. J. T. Martin (Wright, Slephonson and Co.) and R. R. Coppock (Coppock and Hoggard) were elected members of tho Chamber. Tho Hon. S. Shiraizu, Consul-Genera I for Japan in Australasia, is at present a visitor to Wellington. He is staying at tho Midland Hotel. Sergeant W. B. Bowles, recently reported killed in action, was well known in Wainiato (South Canterbury) where ho was born. After leaving school he joined tho Railway Service as cadet, and was promoted in Christchurch before ho volunteered for activo service. Ho was a nephew of Mrs. H. G. Berryman, of Stanley Downs, Kohatu, Nelson. His brother, Clarence, is also- with tho fighting forces, and at latest advices was badly wounded and in hospital. Lieutenant Jack Seabrook, 6on of Mr. A. D. Seabrook, of tho commercial staff of tho Auckland "Star," has been gazetted a flight-commander. He is at prcsont in chargo of a squadron in England, after nearly a year's servico in France. Mr. Frank Reed, ■ Chief Inspector of Mines, has been advised that his only son, Lieutenant. Peroival. Francis Heuntey Reed, M.C., of the 12th Battalion, Australian Infantry, was reported killed or missing on April 25. Lieutenant Reed enlisted as a private at. tho commencement of hostilities in 1914, and he has been on active servico ever since, and has fought in German New Guinea, Arabia, and in France, with the famous 12th Battalion, A.I.F. He received wounds at Ypres, Pozieres, and Bullecourt, where ho gained his Military Cross. He was born in New Zealand and educated at Blundell's School, Devonshire. Lieutenant Reed, in a letter to his father dated February 16 last, had a presentiment of his approaching end. He then wrote as follows: "The German blow will come any week now. I feel assured that ho cannot break through U9 on a grand scale', but we will no doubt lose trenches just tho samo as they lost to us last year and in 1016. Wo poor beggars holding tho front line aro in for a terrible time, and a modern bombardment prior to the hostilo assault is worse than hell. I am far from nervous, but after all my military experience 1 know. For those of us who have fought sinco 1911, who have- suffered muoh pain mid risked our lives times out of number, to havo to witness Russia throwing in the towel and America not yet ready is hard lines. I for ono quite expect the next few weoks to finish my spin on this old globe, also that of many of my. bravo boys, but as I havo always said, it will lw with my face in the right direction, and not before a fow more frauen and fraulein have to don black weeds. . 1 have done it before, and can do it again." Mr. Bateman Thomas Misson, postmaster at Taihapo, died suddenly on Sunday morning (reports a Press Asso. ciation message). Tho late Mr. Missen, who was 62 years of age, ontered tho Post and Telegraph Department 35 years ago, and was a telegraph operator at Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Waiau. and Ashburton lieforo ho was placed in chargo ,of tho Taihapo Post and lele. graph Office. Ho leaves a widow and family.

Mr. Honrv Hubert Metcalfe, M.T.C.E., died suddenly at Whnkatano on Friday last. About a year ago Mr.-Metcalfe had a seizure, but recovered apparently to his normal health. Deceased was the son ot Mr. Henry Geldart Metcalfe, of "Ring; ward," Hampshire, England, and was Gli years of ago. As an engineer Mr. Metcalfe ranked high in Auckland (says tho "Star"), no carried out many important works in tho Auckland district, including the drainage system of the borough of Devonport and tho Whnngarei waterworks. Latterly he has been engaged on n big work at Whakntane, having for its object improving the entranco to the harbour. He left for WhakaUine last Thursday, and then seemed in his usual health. Mr. Metcalfo came- to New Zealand about 35 years ago. His eldest son (Lieutenant H. E. Metcalfe) wsa killed in Franco about a year ago. Another son (Mr. Georgo Metcalfe) is on active service at tho Western front, and a third son is married, 'there a'-e four daugh-ters-Miss Metcalfe (who is at present a muse in a military hospital m India , Mcsdatnes V. K. Walker, W. J. Broadford, aad 13. 1), Huddle,

Mr. .T. J. Pickett, chief postmaster at Gisborne, is resigning from the Post and Telegraph Department at the eml of tlio present month. Hr. Pickett cuino to New Zealand as a young married man 45 years ago, and entered the Civil Service at Charleston. He has been :n the service of the Department continuously, and has been successively at Waipawo, Waipukuran, Stratford, Tauranga, Thames, and Gisborne. Ono of Auckland's oldest residents, Mr. Thomas H. Webb, died a few days ago. Mr. Webb was tho second son of Mr. Samuel 11. Webb, who arrived in Auckland with his family in the ship Frenchman in 1800. Ho was educated at St. John's College, and had many interesting recollections of the late Bishop Sehvyn. Forty years ago Sir. Webb was one of tho most strenuous workers of St. Matthew's Church, and many members of his Sunday School choir still remember his connection with it. In later years Mr. Webb was urgauist of St. Baruabas's aud several other Auckland churches.