PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 77, 26 December 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

All the members of tlio Ministry except Sir William Fraser and the tttms. J. A. Hauan, W. 11. Herries, and G. W. Russell are away from Wellington at tilt! present time. The Eon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education) and his family have been unable to leave for their home in Invercnvgill owing to Mrs. Hanan having been seriously ill with heart trouble, due to influenza ami subsequent collapse from overwork as a voluntary helper dinng the critical period of the epidemic. It will bo a few weeks before Mrs. Hanan will bo able to travel, but Mr. Hauan hopes to be able to get away at the New Year, and spend the rest of the holidays in his constituency. Captain J. Uainey, Marine Superintendent of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line, has returned to Wellington from Whakatane. / • An old resident, Mr. James Meyrick, of ill Hanson Street, died on Monday. Deceased arrived in Wellington in the ship Aiina, in. 1857, and went with his parents to the Wairctrapa. He took part'in the Maori War in Wangamii in ti'c eaily sixties and obtained a .medal. Ho was' also bugler of the first lire brigade (Central) in Wellington and still remained a member of the Fire Police up till his dealh. He leaves a wife and live children (three sons and two daughters). Inspector Marsack, who has been on a visit to Auckland, returned to Wellington on Tuesday. Senior Sergeant Cassells, of Hamilton, and formerly of Wellington, has been indisposed for some time. He intends recuperating at Rotorua. Mi. Albert Johnson, stationmaster at Greytown for the past five yeans, lias received notice >of his promotion to the Upper Hutt as chief qferk.

Some timp ago it was reported that the British seamen at Clausthal, Germany, which happens to be one of the worst prison camps' in the conquered land, had been released, but information now received in Auckland indicates that the earlier information could not have been correct, ill's. W. M'Bride, whose husband was in the camp in question, has received a cablegram that he arrived in London, going via Copenhagen last week, together with twenty-seven other sailors who were prisoners at Clausthal. Mr. W. M'Bride, who is well known in shipping circles in New Zealand, was captain for some time of the steamer Talune. Ha was chief officer of tlio illfated Matunga, which was captured by the raider Wolf on August 7, 1917, when on tho way to Rabaul. Mr. M'Brido and 27 of the crew were taken to • Germany and placed in Clausthal, which is also known as "robbery camp."

The Christchurch "Sun" has the following reference to the death of Dr. William Diamond, of ChristchurchAfter a painful and. lingering illness, lasting about twelve months, during which he had shown remarkable fortitude and endurance, Dr. William Diamond died at his, .residence, Victoria Street. The deceased, who was extremely popular, had long been associated with military matters, and, prior to his illness, had served from the outbreak of the war on a Canterbury Military Medical Board, with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel. Ho previously was a surgeon, with the rank of captain, in the E Battery, under the old volunteer scheme, and was later on the retired list of th' 3 N.Z.M.C., under, the Territorial system. 'The deceased was tho only son of tho late James Diamond, M.D., Sydney, and was born at Harwood, near Glasgow, 51 years ago. Ho graduated as a surgeon at the Glasgow University in 1889, being medallist for surgery for this year. On qualifying, he acted as house surgeon to the late Sir George M'Leodi of Glasgow Westorn Infirmary. On relinquishing this position he went to India, Mid on his return resumed his duties in Glasgow for a space. Later ho practised in Gippsland, Victoria, for three years, Bnd in 1895 came to New Zealand. Forborne time lie was honorary surgeon to the Christchurch Pfospital and also local ■ medical officer for the New Zealand Railways.