PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 298, 5 September 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Mr. H. J. H. Oke'y, M.P. for Taranaki, who lias liot for some time been in good health, .was taken to the hos-. pital at New Plymouth on Sunday. The Taranaki "Hevald" states that it wall be some time before Mr. Okey will be able to attend to his Parliamentary duties. Mr. J. S. Dickson, member for Parnell, is a visitor to Wellington. At the Wairoa Magistrate's Court yesterday the Bar tendered a welcome to the new Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. J. S. Barton, who replied in suitable terms—Press Association. After his return from the Antarctic last year Sir Ernest Shackleton was sent on a specinl mission by the Imperial Government to South America. Ho went back to London in April last, and after preparing an important report he was given charge of a certain expedition connected with military operations. Ho holds the rank of major in the British Army, and has serving under him several of tho members of his Antarctic Expedition. Sir. Frank Wild is his second in command, and Dr. M'llroy and Dr. Maoklin aro also with him. Sir Ernest Shackleton expected to return to Condon this month. Lieutenant Harold .Marshall, 3rd Battalion N.Z.R.B. (son of the late Mr. Raymond W. Marshall, of Wellington), was recommended for a decoration in March last for bravery on tho field at tho samo time that his cousin, 2nd Lieutenant Honry T. Marshall, of Wellington, was awarded tho Military Cross. Tho first-named lias been promoted to a lieutenancy as a reward. Before enlisting ho was in-tho offico of the Ocean Guarantee Association in Wellington.

Mr. J. Redpath arrived from Sydney by the Manuka yesterday. Dr. M. 11. Neligan, Rector of Ford, Northumberland, and formerly Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Nov Zealand, has taken a chaplain's commission for episcopal duties with the New Zoaland Expeditionary Force. Private J. Labatt, of tile 41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, nu old Christchureh High School boy, has been chosen, with six othor men from the A.1.F., to qualify for a commission in the Indian Imperial Army. Private Labatt enlisted in Queensland two years ago, and has been sorving with his company on the Western front. His father, Private Andrew M. Labatt, lias been engaged in transport work with the Army_Service Corps, and.recently arrived in England. Corporal Stanley M'Kay, who was wounded in France about ten weeks ago, and has since boon in hospital in England, is returning to the front. He is well known in theatrical circles in the Commonwealth ami New Zealand. Messrs. John Farrcll and Robert Williamson, who have conducted the Ne\v Zealand tour of the "Biiig Boys" Company, tho former as manager and tho latter as. advance representative, are remaining in Now Zealand to join J. C. Williamson's American Dramatic Company in similar capacities. The dramatic company will open in, Wellington at the end of. the month in "The Thirteenth Oliair."

Scholastic circles in Otago have suffered a very severe loss by the death in action of Lieutenant Thomas 0. Robertson, who, before ho left with the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements, was a master in tho Otago Hoys' High School. Tho late Lieutenant Robertson was born in 1888 at Milton, where he won junior and senior Jlkincation Hoard scholarships, enabling him to continue his education at the Otago High School. Here he. had a brilliant career, and was also a lieutenant in the Cadets, and a good rifle shot. He studied for a year at the Dunedin Training College, and next year was appointed (assistant in the secondary department of the Naseliy District Hi"h .School. In 1909 he went to tho Balolutha District High School, and two vears' later returned to, the Otago Boys' High School as a master, where ho was as thoroughly popular as a master as be had been as a pupil.

The late Rev. A. R. Gordon, M.A., tho news 'of whose death from wounds was received on Monday, was second minister of the Dundas Street iU.etf!odist circuit, Dunedin, prior to enlisting in the Seventh Reinforcements as a private. About four months ago he received a lieutenant's commission. He was educated at tho Otago Boys' High School, and. at tho Otago and Auckland University Colleges. Prior to entering the Methodist Theological College at Auckland he was one of the staff of Messrs. Adams Bros., solicitors, Dunedin. After two years of theological training he was received as a minister on probation, and appointed to Dunedin. llis brothel 1 , Sergeant L. G. Gordon, who. has gained the Military Medal, is at present at tho Officers' Training College at Oxford. The late J lieutenant Gordon's father resides at Dunedin.