PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 36, 6 November 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Police Inspector Norwood was tumble to attend to his official duties yesterday owing to his liuving contracted influenza.

Mr. V>. A. Aiken, general manager of the Union Steam Shi]) Company, arrived iii Wellington yesterday. He was accompanied by Messrs. J. 11. C. Bond (general traffic in'anngcr), Saul, Smith, Jlolstead, nnd Captaiii Monro.

Deaths from pnoumonic influenza are being reported with painful frequency from Auckland. Among llio recent victims ifl Mr. ir. Q. M'Leod; registration clerk in Iho Auckland Post Office, who was for some years on the staff of the Wellington office. The late Mr. M'Leod, who was a married man, was for 23 years in the service of the Post and Telegraph Department, and was well rcepected as a conscientious officer with a high senso of duty. • Mr. Samuel S. Steele, . vho has been appointed manager of the central milk station for tho Wellington City Council, has been in the service of the Dairy Division of tho Agricultural Department for about a yean , past in the capacity of a herd-testing officer.. Prior to entering tho service of the Government Mr. Steele was in charge of the Cheltenham Herdtesting Association at FeiMiiig, whero ho did excellent work in ascertaining the milk capacity (quality and .|uantity) <f tho various eteains.

Mr. A. Gillios is leaving New Zealand next month on a business trip to England and America.

Particulate have just como to hand as to how the late Sergeant H B. Girdlestone, son of Mrs. S. Girdlestone, of Muritai, met his death en the Western front. The portion of the line where ho was stationed was heavily ehelled du/riug the night, and a splinter pierced his heart whilst ho was asleep,' death being practically instantaneous. In civil life Sergeant Girdlestone was an officer of the Lands and Survey Department, holding the rank of district eurveyor. He was a highly qualified technical officer, and, m addition to carrying out extensive settlement eurveye in various parts of the Wellington Land District, was entrusted with special field work in connection with secondary triangulation of the Wellington district. His exploration - work on tho mountains of the Tongnriro National Park and tho Tararua Ranges is also well known, and is -ecordedm tho publication* of the Department. Aβ nn all-round' athlete, the late Sergeant Q\vdlestono was an outstanding figure. Sergeant Girdlestone left New 7ealand with the Thirty-third Reinforcements, and hie genial manner and manly 'lualities earned for him a reputation as one of the most popular non-commissioned officers. Sergeant Girdleetone's two brothers, Guy C. Girdlestone and Cyril S. Girdlestone, have both seen active service in tho present war. The former, who is still away on active service, (recently received the Military Medal for conspicuous service: In letters which have recently come to hand the late Sergeant Girdlestone <leflcritaod an unexpected meeting with liis brother near the front-line trenches. An elder brother, of the deceased is Mr. John B. Girdlestono, who enlisted with the Australian Forces, but was discharged on account of ill-health.

Private Walter James Paulinpf, who has just been awarded the Distinßuished Conduct Modal, is one of the seven sons of/Mrs. D. MTiobbie, of Wellington, and was born in the Wairarapa. Most 6f his life was spent in Canterbury. Hβ left with the Third Eeinforcements, and has been wounded three times. Two of his brothers a-ro also on active sorvice. One of them (Gunner Charles Pauling) has' been wounded on two occasions.

Mrs. Mary Agnes Willis, widow of the late Archdeacon W. N. de L. Willis, died in Auckland on .Sunday, aged 54 years. Archdeacon Willis was' vicar of Cambridge, and for some time archdeacon of Waikato.

Gunner E. C. Carden, who has died of wounds, left New Zealand' with the ISighth Reinforcements, attached.to the Third Battery, Field-Artillery, and had served for three years. He was wounded at Messines in June, 1917, and on recovering joined his old battery. His parents reside at Epsom.

Privato G. 11. Trenibnth, who. was kilU ed in action on October 1, was the seventh son of Mr. 1". Trembath, of OneTree Hill, Auckland, and at one time Mayor of the Thames. Before joining tho Forces Private Trembath was on the staff of the General Post Office. Hβ volunteered for activo eervice at the age of twenty, and ieft New Zealand with the Twenty-second Bcinforcements.' Two other brothers—Private E. C. Trembath and Private W. 1 , . Trembath—aro at tho front.

. A returned soldier, ex-Gunner J. D. Stewart, died at his residence at Mount Eden ou Sunday morning. He left New Zealand with the Main Body, and was at the landing at Gallipoli. Later ho was wounded in the neck, but made a rapid recovery. Hβ returned to his s unit, and was afterwards shot through the kings. The latter wound had a lasting effect, and ho was invalided to New Zealand, about two years ago. A week ago lie contracted influenza, and this brought about complications, from which he did not recover.