PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 307, 16 September 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

A Press Association message from Westport states that the Hon. G. W. Russell. Minister of Hospitals and Internal Affairs, arrived at Wostport on Friday night and received various deputations in the district. He "leaves for Nelson to-day. The Rov! H. N. Wright, of the Anglican 'Church. Ashhurton, has been promoted to he chaplain to the New Zealand Forces (third class), to date from November 23, 1916. Chaplain Wright has been connected with tho Territorials for many years. A Press Association telegram from Greymouth records the death on Saturday of Mr. James AVarnes, a pioneor df the Coast. Tho deceased had been ailing for two years. He was eighty years of age. Mr. B. C. Wamos, of the Base Records Office, Wellington, is his soii. Mr. .T. H. Shaw, who died at Auckland last Wednesday, was horn in County Down, Ireland, in 1829, and was educated at Queen's College, Belfast. Ho camo to New Zealand in 3858 with his father, the lato Mr. H. Shaw, of Wellington, in tho clipper Montmorency. He was law adviser to the Government from 1884-1893, .under tho Stout-Vogel, Atkinson, and Ballance Administrations. He twice contested tho Wellington seat unsuccessfully. Later, ho was lecturer of constitutional law at the Melbourno University, resigning owing to ill-health, and went to Auckland some years ago, after a visit to England.. Second-Lieutenant Leslie C. L. Averill, reported wonnded i is the second son of Dr. A. W. Averill, and was educatedat Christ's College. He obtained his commission in New Zealand, and left with the Thirty-fourth Reinforcements, being later attached to B Company, Rifle Brigade. Bishop Averill's eldest son, Captain W. W. Averill, embarked with the 7th Mounted Rifles, and has been continuously on active service ever sinca. Sergeant Lindsay Kelly (died of wounds) was tho eldest son of Mr. R. D. Kelly, chief postmaster, Gisborne_, and at the time of his death was 25 years of age. He was bom at Auckland, and on leaving Wellington Collego in 1909 he joined the staff of_ tho Australian Mutual Provident Society, Wellington. On the outbreak of war he was one of the first to volunteer, and left New Zealand with the Advance Force. Ho was in the first boat to land at Samoa. On his return to New Zealand he joined up with the n.c.o. class for the Twelfth Reinforcements, was put forward for examination with the Eleventh, and left with that reinforcement as quartermastersergeant, B Company, Wellington Regiment. Private W. Higginbottom, third son of tho late Mr. W. Higginbottom, an ex-councillor of Wellington, died of wounds in Franco on September 7. Private W. Higginbottom wont away with tho Eighth Reinforcements, and up to the time of his death had never been away from bis unit. Before going to the front ho was a membor of the St. Jamos's Football Club and tho Kilbirnie ..Cricket Club. General regret will be expressed at tho news of tho death in action of Sergeant Hugh E. Girdlestono, of Headquarters Staff at the front. The late Sergeant Girdlestone, who was a son of Mrs. S. Girdlestone, of Nikau Street, Eastbourne, was considered one of tho most talented and promising officers in the head office of the Land and Survey Department, where he was held in the higlicst esteem for his personaf as well as professional Sergeant Girdlestone was formerly a member of tho ,Star Boating Club, and before leaving for the front was farowelled by tho Eastbourno Bowling Club. Mrs. M. Halse, of Wellington, has received advice that her son, Lieutenant Godfrey Halse, who was recently wounded, is doing well in hospital in England. Mr. George MacFarlane, of Paparnngi, was presented with a soldier's radium wristlet watch on tho eve of his departure for camp last week, at a social gathering held in Mooro Bros.' Hall, Johnsonvillo. Mr. F. T. Mooro made tho presentation, complimenting tho recipient upon tho good will and esteom ho had won> from everybody in i the district.

In the casualty list recently published was tho name of Privato F. M. Brittain, of tho Thirty-third Reinforcements, who died of wounds on August 31. He was tho second eon of Mr, Henry Brittain, chemist, Manners Street, and was educated at Te Aro School and Wellington College. Before his enlistment Privato Brittain was a member of tho staff of Messrs. Gollin and Co., Ltd., of this city. His death is regretted by a largo circle of friends and many expressions of sympathy | have been received by his wife and relatives. Lancc-Corporal It. T. CWnbe, killed in action on August 24, was the eldest son of Mrs. L. Coombe, and was born at Palmerston North 25 years ago. Enlisting at Levin, lie left with the Fourteenth Reinforcements, and went through the battles of tho Somme, Marne, and Messincs, where ho received several slight wounds. Later he was wounded in both legs and thighs in the great push at Passchendaele, rejoining his unit in May last, when he was promoted lance-corporal on the field. Mrs. Coombe's only remaining son,(George P. Ooombe) is en route to the front with tho Fortieth Reinforcements. News has been received by Mr. and Mrs. James Boyle, of Wellington, that their fourth son, Lieutenant Neil Boyle, Australian Imperial Forces, had died of wounds in France om September 5. Lieutenant Boyle was well known in Wellington, and prior to the outbreak of war was cattle-breeding in the Northern Territory of South Australia. Ho was wounded four times, and saw lighting at Galtipoli, Sommc, Pozieroß, Messines, Passchendaele, and the recent advance. Am elder brother, Ser-geant-Major James Boyle (M.M.), was killed at Passchendaele, and another brother, Sergeant L. Boyle, is at pre-. sent a casualty in Palestine, Lieutenant It. D. Boylo, who was severely wounded prior to the Messines battle, was invalided h6me ; and is attached to tie Forty-fifth Reinforcement.