PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 255, 16 July 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. .T. A. Hanan left for Aucb land by the mid-day train yesterday.

Mr. R. A. "Wriffht, M.P., returned from a visit to Sydney yostorday.

A Press Association message, from Christchurch announces the death of Mr. Samuel Charles Fan-, at the iige of 92, yesterday. Mr. Parr arrived in Akaroa early in 1850, and his marriage was the first celebrated in Canterbury. . Mr. R V. Frazor, S.M., will probably relinquish his Jfazistcrial duties i;i Wellington la-dny, and may be relieved by Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., who has won on holiday leave for the past month. Mr. M'Carthy's presence in Wellington will no only temporary, as he has been a]>pointed to the position of Senior Magistrate in .Christcluirch. Mr. Frazer will continue to act as president of the Public Service Appeal Board, and will proceed lo Christchurch shortly to preside over a sitting of the board there. On his ieturn to Wellington h c will be ragged for sonic days in hearing local appeals. The funeral of (he late Mr. Ormond C. Cooper, who died on Saturday as the result of an accident in Molesworth. Street on Wednesday lasl, tool; piace at Karori Cemetery, yesterday. There was a very large attendance at the interment, including representatives of the legal profession, racing:, and other snorts bodies. The Rev. G. Y. Woodward officiated at the graveside. Reference to the death, of Mr. Cooper was made prior to the commencement oF thn business of tlm First Wellington Military Service Hoard yesterday, when the aclinc-ehiiirmaii, Mr. ]).■ JfTjiiK'n, expressed the sympathy of the members with Ihe chairman cf tho board, Mr. D. G. A. Coup?]-, S.M., in ths sad loss he had sustained in the death of his brother. As a mark of respect the members of {he board and those present, stood for a few moments. Aninnuiry jnlo the circumstnnv.os of Ihfl accident, attending (lie late Mr. Cooper's death will be onened bv the coroner. Mr, . W, G. Riddell.'K.M., at p.ni. to-day. ' The death occurred at Hie Mater Misericordia Hospital, Auckland, yesterday, of the Rev. Father Dore, 5.M.." M.C., who was severely wounded at Gallipoli. Father Dore, who wtis formerly jarish priest at Foxtou, left New. Zealand .1.1 a cliapla'i with the Main Body, and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in briiifing in wounded under fire. On Mβ way to tho New Zealand lines lie was shot in the spine by a Turkish sniper, and bis right leg was also very badly injured. For some time he was in hospital in England, and after his return to New Zealand be went over to Australia. Six months ai?o lie came back to New Zealand slightly improved in ' health, mid took charge of bis parish at Foxton, being nssisted by tho Rev. Father Forcstel. He suffered considerably, however, from the effects of his wounds, and it was with the hope of bringing about a recovery thalt he underwont an operation atj Auckland on Wednesdav last. At first it appeared as if the operation would bo successful, but yesterday (morning Father Dore collapsed and passed away. A native of Roscomnion, Ireland, the- deceased priest was 33 years of age, and came New Zenland about eight years ago. For a whiln be was encaged as curate at Palmerslon North, going from there to Kaikonra, where lie was appoiulcd parish priest. Later on b.e was translerred to Foxtou, and when he went to tho front he waa attached to the Auckland troops.

Lieutenant-Colonel T. Mill, R.A.M.C., who is to take charge of the new orthopaedic hospital at Dunedin, has arrived from England. Captain Leo Myers, late of Auckland, and brother of the Hon. Arthur Myers, has been appointed honorary organiser of the Riflemen's Aid Society- Captain Mvers enlisted as a private in the King a Bdyal Rifles shortly after the outbreak of war, and 6pent three and a half years under canvas (including several months in the trenches in France), eventually rising to the rank of captain in his tcriment. Rince.bein* invalided home from France, Captain Myers, who is now in his forty-eighth year, has been training troops in one of the camps in England. Although he has been examined six times by the medical boards, the decision in each instance has been: "Fit for sedent- , ary duty only." The Riflemen's Aid Society exists for the purpose of assisting discharged or demobilised soldiers ■ belonging to the two famous regiments, the King's Royal Rifles and the Rifle Brigade. By its means employment is found not only for the men who have served in these historic regiments, but the widows and children of those who have lost their lives in the Bervice are i also assisted, and, when necessary, educated and trained for congenial arid suitable avocations. The War Office, recognising the national and important character of the work of the Riflemen's Aid Society, has released Captain Myers from his military duties in order to take up his new appointment, and which Captain Myers has expressed his desire to_ undertake in a purely honorary capacity.

Mr. 11. A. Beaucltamp, -general manager of Kodak, Australasia, Limited, left last evening on a visit to the South Iβland.

Mr. Bernard F. Pnge (city organist) has been rejected as ineligible for active military service.

News has been received in Wellington confirming the death of Private Frederick A. E. Swiney, son of Mr. and Mrs. \Y. Swiney, of 91 Pirie Street, who waa reported as having been killed in action on May 8 last. In a letter of sympathy to the mother of the deceased soldier, the Rev. G. T. Robson, chaplain to the. let Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment,, supplies some particulars as to liow Private Swiney met his death. In the course of the letter, which is dated May 10, Chaplain Robsou says:—"Wβ were in the support trenches at the time, when at 5 a.m. on the morning of May 8 a shell landed right beside your boy and Corporal Mackie, killing them instantly, so you may Jio assured that he felt no pain, as death was instantaneous. That eame afternoon wo took the bodies down, to the British Military i Cemetery in ' Jfebutorne, burying them besido eomo other New Zealanders. To-morrow I hope to erect a*cross to your son's sacred memory. \ I indeed feel for you in your great loss." The late Private Swiney was twenty-one years of age, and went to tho front' with the Thirty-second Roinforcemente. Prior to his enlistment, he was in the employ of Messrs. George, Doughty, and Co., of Wellington, and was a popular member of the Y.M.C.A. and the Wellington East B senior cricket eleven. Deceased was a brother of Mr. E. A. K. Swiney, of the literary staff of The Dominion*.

Private Ralph S. Murphy, who, in January last, was invalided from tho front to England on account of trench fever, and who is well known in tho wool trade in Napier and elsewhere, has been chosen from those permanently unfit for further field service as instructor in wool to convalescent soldiers in England. At present he is lecturing three times daily at Hoivichurcli to classes of about eighty students. Ho expects to have to visit various ccr.tres, includiug tho leading ports of England.

Miss Elsie Richards, sister of Lieutenant Harold Ridumls (formerly manager of the Dominion Motor Vehicles, Ltd., of Wellington, and now officer commanding the New Zealand Mechanic port in England), arrived from England yesterday. Miss Richards is visiting New Zealaud for tho benefit of her health.