PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 182, 28 April 1919, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

Dr. .1. F. Payne, \of Australia, who 'has been a naval surgeon afloat during the war, and was on H.M.S. Vindictive when she blew up the moles at Zee< brugge, arrived at Wellington the Palooua from San Francisco on SatuM day, and will join the Moeraki for Sydney to-day. He is accompanied by Mrsi Payne. ' .• . Captain Bush and Lieutenant Gibbons returned to Wellington by tho Paloona from Karolonga. Lieiitenaiit-Colonol Professor David has returned after service at the front sinc,9 early in 1916. He tells an inspiring eiorf of the worth of his Australian mining corps.—Press Assn. ■' ' A District Court-Martial held at Trentham Camp on 66,160 He. (temp. Cpl.) Alfred Smyth, Details, late Thirtyseventh Reinforcements (absent without lqave from December 13, 1917, to January 21, 1919), eentenced accused to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour for deserting ami losing by neglect, his equipment, clothin? and regimental necessarie.s," and placed under stoppages of pay until ho lias made good the total value, o£B 11s. 6d. ■■ ' . • A complelo survey of the Norwegian steamer Bessa was half finished on Saturday afternoon, one side of the ship having been examined , in the day. Two divers were down, inspecting the whole of the hull, and up to date they report that the total damage is on the port side of No. 1 hold, and extends from bulkhead to bulkhead, all being visible from the interior of the hull. There is no damage below (he tank. The Bessa is double-bottomed, and is fitted for holding' oil fuel. The eurvey will probably Iμ completed I his afternoon. A Press Association cablo message from Now York states that Major E. (!. Trower/of Sydney, Australia, has arrived there by the Aquitania. Major Trower was responsible for blowing oft the top of a hill at Beaumont-Haniel, when OtJU Germans were killed.' Eegret will bo'expressed at the serious illness of Mr. James Ji'Bain, committee clerk to the Wellington City Council. I\lr. M'Bain became ill on Good Friday, and on Saturday was removed to the Hospital in a state of delirium, influenza having supervened on a nervous breakdown. Mr. M'Bain's condition is said to be serious. The death of Mr. John Mitchell, an old and esteemed widen t of Shannon, occurred last week. Porri at Karori in 1858, he camp to Shannon with his wife and family in 1890, v.hero ho had resided up to the time of his death. For ye.ars he was a member of the Shannon School Committee, pnd for some timo chairman; lie was clso director for over; seven years, up to tho time of his death, of the, Shannon Co-operative Dajry Co., Ltd.. lalso a member and keen supporter of the Farmers' Union. Hβ all his lifo took a great interest in church work, was one of the first ciders of the Shannon Presbyterian Church, and held that, honour till the time of his death. Ho also was a past master in the Oddfellows' Lodge; There were fivo sons in tho family—Allen, Wilfred, Ken, Gordon, I and Hector. 1 The first two .saw active ecrvice in the war, while a third was in camp when the armistice was signed. The second son unfortunately contracted pneumonia and died at Cologne.. The lute Mr. Mitchell was buried at the Shannon Cemetery, Ee.v, Mr. Wheeldon conducting the service a.t the graveside.- , '

The death is announced of Mr. H. P. Horpibrookc, one of the best-known mine mauagers in the Auckland district. Deceased was a sou of Dr. llornibrooke, of Belfast, and went to Auckland over half a century ago. In the ttirly days of the Coromandel field, he managed, and was part owner, of the Bismarck mine. When tho Kuaotunu field wae discovered he was early on the ground, imd later was manager of the Kapai-Vormout mine. He was subsequently engaged by a London to head a prospecting espedition in the neighbourhood of Abyssinia* Although not successful fioni the point of discovering a goldfield, the party located an iron deposit, cud quite recently he received a communication from the Italiau Government inquiring if he was prepared to return to that field at the end of the war. Mr. Hornibrooko wae a member of tho Eoard of Examiners'of mine'and battery managers, belonged to Thames Licensing Committee for a number of years,' and was also a member of Corom'audel County Council. Eifleman Jack Doody, formerly of the Napier "Daily Telegraph" staff, has been chosen to travel through France, Belgium, Palestine, md Gallipoli for the purpose of taking photographs of the graves of fallen soldiers. He is now attached to the..Grave Gazetting Battalion, aria is not expected home this year.

The death is recorded of Mrs. Catherine Gray, relict of tho late William Gray, 'formerly secretary to the G.P.0., aged 95. She was born at Wick, Scotland, 011 July 18, 1824, and arrived in New Plymouth with, .her late husband 'ill 1851 in the ship Simla The late Mr. John Blackett, M.1.C.E., who afterwards became Engineer-in-Chief in New Zealand, was a fellow-passenger. The late Mrs. Gray resided in hew Plymouth eome years, and for shorter periods at Nelson. Dunedin, and Auckland, where Kie late Mr. Gray was in tho Post Office. He afterwards became secretary, and was succeeded in that position by his eldest son. of the eame name, who died about twelve years ago. The,, family came to Wellington in 1865, and has resided here ever since in Broughnm Street, living in the siime house for forty-nine years. The late Mrs. Gray is survived by threo daughters, Mrs. A. Cruicksliank (Silverhope, Hunterville), Mrs. W. J. Martin (Huanßarun, Martinborongh), aud Mrs W. H. Millward (Wellington), and one son, , Mr. A. Gray, K.C., and several grandchildren, some of whom have served in the war. The funeral will be private.