PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 150, 20 March 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister ol Railways, left for the north yesterday. He has arranged to attend tlie Matamata Sho\v, and will return to Wellington tomorrow. Sir William Fraser, Minister of Publio Works, left for Auckland yesterday. Tho Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lauds, is expected to return to Wellington to-day by the Main Trunk express. He has been visiting some of the northern districts. Advice lias been received by Mr. W. H. Stutham, of Epsom, that his son, Lieutenant W. H. Statham, has been awarded till) Military Cross for his gallantry during operations from November 3 to the end of hostilities. Lieutenant Stath.im went to the front three years ago as a sergeant with the first reinforcements for the Fiji contingent, and ou gaining his commission was appointed to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. He was serving with- this regiment in Sir Julian Byng's Third Army in the i.-ist phase of the war, and was acting as intelligence officer for his battalion. In this capacity, according to the official record, Lieutenant Statham acquired most valuable information, and displayed courago of the highest order.

Lieutenant Alec. Whitcombe, R.F.A., who is serving with the British Forces in Northern KusMa,~< has been ' promoted captain. Captain Whitcombe is 23 years of age, and a member of the firm of Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd.

Word has been received in Wanganui from tho Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, by Mrs. Sleight, that her husband, Sergeant-Major G. H. B. Sleight, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for valuable services render ed during the war. Sergeant-Majo Sleight is a St. oJhn Ambulance Brigade man, and saw active service during the South African war. Ho has been identified with tho historic Aotea Home in Egypt from its inception to its close.

The death occurred on March 8 ol M". Terence Burton, of Constable Street Born at Park, Galbally, Ireland, in 1872, the late *lr. Burton arrived in New Zen/ land three years later, and went with his parents to Blenheim, where he resided for a number of years. He was well known in insurance circles, having , been for many years in the service of tha Mutual Life Insurance Co. and for the last two years with the Government Life Insurance Department. He loaves a widow and four children.

The following resignations were received by yesterday's meeting of the Wellington Education Board:—Mrs. S. Lane, sole teacher, Ngamuku; Mrs. M. Bartholomew, assistant, Lovin; Mrs. M. J. Wilkinson, head teacher, Ballaiice; Miss L. A. Brasell, assistant, Petono District High School; Mrs. 13. A. Philip, assistant, Tnita; Miss M. M. J. Steedman, assistant Brooklyn; Miss D. M. Cheek, assistant, Marlborough town; Miss M. Stratford, sole teacher, Eli Bay; Miss M. H. Weit--7,e1, solo teachor, Horoeka;' Miss Q. M. Dryden, solo teachor, Spring Grove; Mrs. I. Goodwin, assistant, Hutt District High School; Miss 13. G. l'inhey, head teacher, Pahautanui; Miss L. M'Gregor, assistant, Masterton; Miss M. King, sole teacher, Aland Island Aided School.

Reference was made in the annual report of tho Poneke Football Club to the death of several gentlemen whose loss tho club deeply deplored.. Untimely deaths had removed Mr. A. 11. Turnbull (h generous supporter), and Messrs. H. M'lntyre and J. and C. Slattery (threo old and respected members); also Mr. I). Weir (late chairman of the W.R.F.U.).

The following appointments of assistants were confirmed at yesterday's meetins of-tho Education Board: Mr. N. A. Byrne (To Aro), Mr. E. K. Rishworth (Clyde Quay), Alisses M. 11. Charters (South Wellington), D. V. Johnstone (Newtown), T. G. Reader (Blenheim), A. M. Richards (Koputnroa). W. L. Wilkins (Dyer), J. E. Willis (Brooklyn). Reference to the deaths during the epidemic last year of Messrs. D. D. Weir and P. R. Galvin was made in tho report of the Wellington Rugby Football Club, presented to the annual meetingof the club on Tuesday night. "Mr. Weir-was a whole-hearted and enthusiastic supporter of tho Rugby game," said the report, "and probably no other man in the Dominion worked harder or gave more of his time to the cause than he did. At various times he acted on the Hawko't) Bay and New Zealand Rugby Unions, and was for sohie timo chairman of tho Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union, and in each capacity rendered invaluable service to the game. He was one of tho prime movers in the formation of tho North Otago Rugby Union, and also of the dispatch of tho original 'All Black' team to Britain in 1905. The welfare of this club at all times received Mr. Weir's personal attention, and his death is an irreparable loss to it and to Rugby football in general. Sir. Galvin was a member of the club's senior fifteen, and on occasions represented the province. He was a fine type of player, and was regarded as one of tho most pronus j ing of our younger members. Mr. Galvin also acted" as honorary s-ecrotarv, aucj filled the position with credit to himself and the club. His death is a distinct loss to the club, both as a player aud an officebearer."

Mr. J. T. Bishop, who has been for souio year:-' clerk in the Auckland Magistrate's Court, chiefly in connection witli civil business, has received notice 'of transfer on promotion to the Wellington Magistrate's Court. Ho will be leaving for tlie south within a few weeks.

Advice has been received of the death in France 011 December 23, 1918. of Madamo Kigoreau, wife of 11. J. Rigoreau, formerly French Consul at Auckland.