PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir William Frnser, Minister of Public Works, will leave to-night on a visit to the South Island. He will.go to Dunedin and Invercnrgill, mid to somo parts of his own electorate of Wakatipu. He will be absent from Wellington for rather moro than a week.

Tho Hon. G. W. Russell goes to Napier to-morrow to preside at a conference he lias arranged there regarding objections to hospital levies in that district. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie leaves this morning for Feilding to visit 'two soldiers' settlements where there are matters requiring liis immediate attention. A cablegram received from Australia announces the death at East Melbourne of Mr. I'va-ncis Richard Russell, formerly chief inspector in New Zealand for tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. Mr. Kussell was 03 ; cars ct age. Tho Rev. Matthew Mullineux, M.A., who has just received tho Military Cross, passed through New Zealand two years ago. Mr. Mullineux gave up his position as chaplain to tho Flying Angel Missions to Seamen in a port in America, and worked his passage across to NewZealand in the stokehold of a mail boat. Mr. Mullineux passed somo required examinations in Wellington, and tho latest accounts of his exploits, come ns no surprise to those who knew the Padre, as he is a first-class all-round man. Mr. Mullineux was a famous footballer in his time, being captain of an English team that visited Australasia.

Amongst recent'recipients of tho Military Cross is Archio C. Macdomild, fourth son of 'Mr. Angus Macdonnld, Invercnrgill. Word has nlso been received of his promotion to tho rank of captain. Captain Macdonald was- well known in InvcreargHl, whero he spent most of his boyhood. He was in tho office of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., and took a keen interest in amateur athletics, being a crack sprintcY, and was tho scratch man in tho south for distances up to 220 yards. After being transferred to Dnnodin he took up I'ueby as his recreation, and represented Olago for two years while resident there. On going to Christchurch he played for Canterbury province, and represented the South Island as wing threo-nuarter .in the inter-island match played at Napier in 1013. Tie left New Zealand \n 19H with tho First Reinforcements nsia. private, and has gained all his promotion in tho iicld.

Mr. T. Bush," a resident of Nelson for the winter, is at present visiting Wellington.

The Rev. J. W. Burton, M.A., formerly of Jf.isterl.on and New Plymouth, now of Victoria, this year's foreign mission deputation to the Methodist churches of New Zealand, is at present in WeiHuston, staving with Mr. A. Longmoro, Brougham Street.

.Mr. Hugh Hamilton, director of the Vacuum Oil Co. (Propt.v.), Ltd., has arrived in New Zealand on a. business trip.

Sergeant Alex. Cruickshank (died of wounds) was the eldest son of Mr. John Cruickshank, formerly uf Glenavy, South Canterbury, but now of Okaramio, Marlborough. The U.te Sergeant CnMckshank left with the. Fifth Ueniforcements, and had boon on active service ever since. Ho wont through the Ciallipoli campaign without a scratch, but was wounded twice in France before ho received the wound, resulting in his death, lie left New Zealand .is a private, but was promoted to the rank! of sergeant in franco, having won his stripes on the'battlefield. Ho also won the Military Medal last Odobcr. At the meeting of tho Karori Borough Council last evening, on tho motion of tho Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Bum) it was decided to send a letter of condolence to tho relatives of tho lato Sir Charles Johnston, who had long been a resident of tho borough.