PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 151, 21 March 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

| The Hon. W. H. Herries, Minister of Railways, is expected to return to Wellington to-day. The Hon. D. 11. Guthrie,' Minister of Lauds, returned to Wellington from tho north yesterday. A Press Association cablegram from Sydney 6t.ite3 that the Rev. John G. Wheen has 'been elected president of the Methodist Conference. Tho members of tho Epidemic Commission leave for ChristcLurch to-night to hear evidenco there. Sir John Denniston and Mr. D. M'Laren will certainly go, but tho Hon. E. Milchel9tin is. still indisposed, and may not leave for another day or so. His ailment is nothing worse than au acute attack of lumbaso. Mr. 11. Holland, Mayor of Christclinrch, is in Wellington to attend' the meeting of (he National War Funds Council. He will leave' for tlio south again this evening. Seorgeant Frank Ash bolt, foimerly ene of Wellington's best known reprosenta- ' I ive cricketers,. returned to "Wellington from England by tho Athenic yesterday. Mr. Frank Lawry, who represented the I'arnell constituency in the House of Representatives from ISilO to 1911, and who prior to that sat as member for l'ranklin North, attained his eightieth birthday on Thursday' last. A number of friends waited on Mr. Lawry at his home in Ellerslie, to tender their congratulations, and Mr. S. Somerfield, on their ( behalf, presented Mr. Lawry with a Morris chair and other mementoes of the occasion. Stall' Sergeant-Major Sydney Castle, son of Mr. J. G. A. Castle, of Petnno, has boon awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for vnl«al)|e services Tendered with the forces abroad. S.S.M. Casllo left Now Zealand with tho Third Reinforcements and is attached to the Divisional Headquarters Staff of the N.Z.K.F. Cable advice has been received that Captain G. P. Evans, of the Eastbourne Kerry Company, who has been serving in the Navy for tho past three years, sailed for New Zealaiui early in March. A Press Association message from Sydney slates that the Methodist Conference agreed to transfer the Rev. C. A. Sims from New Zealand lo New South Wales for special repatriation work in connection with the Y.M.C.A. Captain ,T. H. W. Shoßpard, who has been appointed command paymaster for tho Otago district, will take over tho duties from Captain Shorney. Captain Sheppard, when paymaster at Trontham, ioined the infantry to get to the war. On his retnrn to New Zealand ho was j made base cashier alTHeadciuarters.

Mr. Frank Wills, of Eastbourne, lia9 received word' that his eon, Stall' SergeantEarl C. Wills, has been awarded the Service Medal. Staff Sergeant Wills is a Wellington College ol<t boy. He enlisted the first day (he call for recruits was made, and went to Samoa. He later returned to Wellington,, but after spending only sis days in his native town ha left with the Fourth Reinforcements. Ho saw considerable service oil Gallipoli and was in the by engagement at Suvla. Bay. He was one of the 50 survivors'out of 800 men. Having suffered from shell-shock, lie was invalided to England', and after a short time in hospital was returned to his unit. He has been right throng)] the various engagements on the Western front, and is now with the New Zealand Forces ill Germany. Staff Sergeant Wills luis ibep.u anxioiM to remain (o the last, and will probably not. lie returning homo until the end of tho. present year.

Mr. J. Coyle, who for a number of years has been a member of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board,' and has occupied the chair for seven! years, has decided not. to seelt re election "nt the forthcoming Hospital Board election.

Private advice has been received in Auckland to the cffect that Sub-Lieuten-ant A. E. Cheal, R.A.F., who has been on the staff of the War Office for some time, has been transferred from the R.A.F. to Hie War Office staff, with the rank of captain, tho promotion to date from last August.

Mr. W. H. P. Barber announces his candidature for tho City Mayoralty.