PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 52, 26 November 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sergeant 11. J. Laurent, winner of the coveted V.0., is a son of Mr. J. Laurent, of Hawera, Taranafci, and grandson of Mr. R. SI. D. St. Laurens-, who is still alive at the age of 91! years. When the old gentleman's grandson enlisted he said to him: "T am going to live to see my country free." He has not only done that, but has the honour (o be a" grandfather of a winner of tho V.C. The name "Laurens" has been Anglicised lo "Laurent" by the second and third generation. Sergeant Laurent left with tho Sixth ■Reinforcements. There are five grandsons of Sir. Laurens at the front—Messrs.. L. Laurent, who went with Hie Main Body; H. J. Laurent, V.C; Corporal B. 11. Laurent, Lewis gun instructor, Sling Camp; and Mr. E. A. Laurent, of Eltham, who is at present home on leave. ' The condition of Dr. M'uir, of the Wellington Hospital staff, who is suffering from influenza, was reported yesterday to have improved a good deal. Private Patrick Quiiiii,' eldest son of Mr. Michael Qiiirin, of Oriental Bay, Wellington, is the third of. Mr. Quinn's sons to receive the Military Medal, news of the awarding of which honour has just been received. Bom in Napier about 21 years ago, Private Qninn was educated at the Marist Brothers' School, Napier. Ho left with tho Twenty-fifth Reinforcements and was reported gassed recently. His other two brothers, both of whom gained tho medal, left with the Australians. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P. for Wellington Central, who fell a victim to the prevalent malady, was reported yesterday to be a good deal better. His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) yesterday admitted Major Ernest S. Harston as a solicitor 'of the Supreme Court on the motion of Mr. A. H. Burnett. Leaving New Zealand as a. subaltern with the Moin Body. Major Harston served with the Wellington Battalion at Anzae, acting as Staff-officer to tho late Coloiwl Malone at tho time of the latter's death on Chunuk Bair. For his services Major Harston was mentioned in dispatches., He went to France, where he acted as an intelligence officer till invalided home. In Nsw Zealand Major Harston was attached to General Headquarters, Wellington. He was an exceedingly popular and efficient officer in the field, and did good work in New Zealand. Major W. C. Morrison, second in command of the Canterbury Military District, died rather suddenly last night from heart failure, following a severo attack of influenza (states a Press Association message from C'hristchurch). Major Morrison saw a good deal of service with the New Zenlander.s ozi Gallinoli and in France. Advice has been received of (he death from wounds on November i, of ActingMajor J. C. M'Carthy. Major M'C'nrthy went to the front as an officer of the Twenty-third Reinforcements, and was in the fighting line almost continuously, taking part in sixteen battles on the West front. He was mentioned' in dispatches for good work in attack and defence. Prior).to leaving'for the front Major M'Carthy was in tho railway service,' holding the rank of stationmaster. Ho leaves a. widow and two children. He was the son of Mr. C. C. M'Carthy, of Auckland. The funeral of the late Mr. Gerald' Henson, of "Peg o' My Heart" Company, took place yesterday morning, _ the - interment taking place at Karori. The last: respect to the (lead was paid by such of the members of the company as wore able to attend and other professional friends. Messrs. J. and N. Tait were represented by Mr. Maurice Ralph. The marked respect in which the late Dr. Henry Pollen, Port Health Officer, was held in AYellington was shown by tho large attendance of representative men at his funeral, -. esterday afternoon. The cortege left the residence of the deceased in Boulcott. Street soon after 2 p.m. Among tho mourners were tho Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout), the Mayor (Mr. ,T., P. Luke, M.P., C.M.G.), representatives of the British Medical Association, the Harbour Board, shipping companies, Government Life. Insurance Department, the A.M.P. Society, Wellington Savage Club, staff of tho Pensions Board (of which the deceased was a member), the Defence Department, and St. Peter's Parish. From .Boulcott Street the remains were taken lo St. Peter's Clnrch, where a service was conducted by the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), assisted by the Rev. H. Watson. The Dead March from "Snul" was played on the organ by Dr. W. Kington Fyft'e (president of the local branch of the British Medical Association). Bishop Sprott and the Rev. 11. AYatson officiated at the graveside. Mr. W. R. Morris, Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, was sufficiently recovered to resume his duties at headquarters yesterday. The Assistant-Secretary (Mr. F. V. 'Waters) was in a very low state on Sunday evening, but the hope was expressed yesterday that he may pnll through, though his condition is. still extremely grave. Mr. E. Shrimpton (Chief Telegraph Engineer) is now in a state of convalescence, and Mr. M'Nainara (supervisor of staff), who has been seriously ill, is showing signs of recovery. Mr. W. M. Reid, stationmaster at' Papanui, died from infhieaza on Tuesday morning. The deceased was a sergeant in the Main Body, and was well known as an ex-Albion (Christclmrch) wing three-quarter. He was a eon of Sir. John Reid, schoolmaster, Oamaru, and at one time of Ravensbourne, ami a brother of Mr. H., B. Reid, of the Dunedin Supreme Court. He was a member of the executive committee in Christclmrch of the Returned Soldiers' Association. Lieutenant C. C. Massey succumbed to the prevailing epidemic on Sunday evening at his residence, 87 Hataitai" Road. Embarking with the Main Body as a ser-geant-major on the permanent staff, ho gained his commission in the field before he was returned invalided on account of gastric trouble. After a period of sick leavo he was posted to duty with the Director of Base Records, in which office he rapidly gained the admiration of his fellow officers and staff for his many sterling qualities. Hβ leaves .a wife and son, for whom much sympathy is felt in their loss.. His funeral will take place this afternoon. Mr. Albert R. Durrant, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, Lambton Quay, who died from tlie effects, of influenza in Christchurch on Friday, was a qualified chemist by profession, and was in business for some years in Blenheim. The deceased, who was. 38 years of age, leaves a widow and threo little children.

The Military Medal has been awarded to 5/2-ila Shoeing-Smith Harold Thompson, for gallantry on tho field of action. His next-of-kin is his mother, Mrs. M. Thompson, G Carl ton Gore ]Joncl, Auckland.

The funeral took place yesterday of Captain M. Gurio, Minster of tho French barquo Colonel de Villobois-Mnroui!, Tt was attended by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Liike, C.M.G.), Consul for JjYanoe. (Mr. James Macintosh)) Mr. John ilutcliMon, Mdllo. till Bosson, Mrs. T. Bourko, representatives of the Union Company (agents for the '.essel), and as many of *bo crew as possible. As a murk of respect for the memory of tho late captain, the flags at tho Town Hall and the Union Company's otlico were llown at half-m.ist.

Mr. D. .A.' Bfodic, whose den Ih through angina pectoris occurred last J'ritlny night, was born in 1572, in Derbyshire, England, and was educated in Edinburgh. For some eight years he was icpivscntativo for Mespr«. Kcckilt ami Sons, 1,(d.. and .1. S. Fry ami Sun, Mil., in South Africa, when! lie whs iillacked willi malaria fever. Upon Ihe t ilvire of bis mcdicnl adviser bo came Id New /calami in UIIII, where he was npiioinlod Mew Zealand rewespiilalive for Ihe Gournck' Knppwork Export Co., T.td., nio (if the oldest and wealthiest firms of its kind. Mr. Brnilio. who was very highly eslenmeil by all with whom he came, in contact, was married December, and leaves a widow but no family.

Advice has been received that 11/131 IMvato Jfimcs Crichton has been awarded the V.C. His next-of-kin is bis brot.hor, Mr. R. Crichton, of Craig Terrace, Blackridge, West Lothian, Scotland.

Mr. James Ennis Hull, a well-known member of the Public Service in Wellington, who left for Eketahuna on November 8 to get married, became, ill there before the date fixed for the ceremony, and died on Friday last. Deceased was in charge of tho Military Service Board's office in Wellington until recently, when he was loaned to the Pensions Department, to fill a responsible temporary position in connection with war pensions. He was a very capable and popular officer. Mr. W. 11. Caldow, secretary .of the Wellington Choral Union, who had a severe bout with influenza last week, is now on the road lo recovery. Mrs. Caldow has also been similarly afflicted, and she, too, is now on the mcnd. : Mr. AVill Appleton, associated in business with Sir. Charles Haines, of Wellington, who has boen dangerously ill with pneumonic-influenza, is now on the road to recovery and should shortly be about again as usual. Unfortunately, Sir. Appleton has hud a sad experience in the death of his wife—a much-esteein-eil lady, who had many friends. Mrs. Appleton succumbed to the same complaint after an illness of only about ten days. Mr. William Asher, one of the oldest residents of lnvercnrgill, and for many years a partner in the firm of Messrs. M.'Calllim and Co., timber merchants, died last Wednesday. Mr, Asher, whose wife, predeceased him some years ago, has left a single-'(laughter and a eon, the llev. J. A.'Asher, Presbyterian minister, of Napier. Tho lale Sir. Duncan Cameron, of Mornington, who died from influenza, was well known throughout New Zealand. Ho was born at Pahau Station, on the East Coast of the Wellington province, and was educated at Wellington College, afl,er leaving which he entered into business in this city, subsequently joining the firm of Messrs. Skeltoii, Frostick and Co., whom he represented in the South Island for nearly forty years. Mr. Cameron took a very active'part in the early days in all kinds of sport, and represented Wellington province at both cricket and foot : Kail. He was also a keen yachtsman. He was a prominent member of the executive committee of tho Overseas Club. Mr. C. Curry, of the "Evening Post" mechanical staff, and Mrs. Curry havo 'suffered a double bereavement in the loss of their two sous, Messrs. C. A. Curry and J. J. Curry. The former, who was M years of age, served his lime in the machine-room of the "New Zealand Times," and later joined ihe stall' of Messrs. Wright and Carman, with which firm he remained np to tho time of his deiith. He leaves two young children. His wife predeceased him by some Mr. J. <T. Curry went to the front, with the Twenty-sixth Reinforcements, and saw service. Ho wae invalided home some months ago. His age was 28 years. Since appearing with the Wellington Choral Union in- "Faust" recently, Sir. Ernest Drake, the Auckland tenor, has been suffering from the prevailing epidemic. He is now progressing favourably and expects to be about again in a few days. Mr. E. B. Vance, secretary of the AVelliiigton Amateur Operatic Society, who took ill on the last day of "The Gondoliers" season, has been confined to his bed ever since. He is now mending slowly. Owing to the president of the Oriental Football' Glub not being well enough to attend the funeral of Mr. I). Weir on Saturday, Mr. Sl'llwraith, besides representing the Rugby Union, represented the Oriental Club. Club members sent a wreath of flowers as a last token of their respect for Mr. AVeir