PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 200, 19 May 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Minister of Public Works (Sir William Eraser) will return to Wellington by the .Napier express to-day.

Dr. J. Allan Thomson, director of the Museum, who has been spending the past two months in geological survey work in Marlborougb, returned' to Wellington on Saturday. .<

Dr. Hughes Steele, 'who left for the front over twelve months ago, will shortly Ijd returning.. Dr. Steele has been attached to tho surgical staff of Walton-on-Thames Hospital, Dr. Steelo was with No. 2 Fioid Ambulanco and a British clearing casualty station during tho big "push" with the Army of Occupation'in Germany, and letters received by the last mail stated that he was then back at Walton.

Mr.. F. M. Corkil!, Assoc.M.lnst. C.E., of Oriontal Bay, hnving obtained his discharge from the Now Zealand Engineers in England, has been appointed an assistant engineer in the Public Works Department of tho Federated Malay States. With Mrs. Corkill he has now settled at Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and is engaged on anti-malarial drainngo work under tho Malaria Advisory Board.

An old identity of Wellington, Jfr, Bar- j net Phelps, passed away on Saturday, < the catiso of death being heart trouble, j contracted as a result of illness during tho influenza epidemic of November last. Mr. Pliolns was born in Thonidon in 1812. his parents having arrived in AVcllihgton in tho ship Lady Nugent in 1811. For over thirty years the deceased managed the busi'nes? of Sir. Peter Lniiii?, baker and confectioner, Lambton Quay, and when Messrs. M'Even and Churchill took over tho concern he continued the managership for about another twelve yrar.i, when he retired. The Into Mr. Phelus was known to most Wellington people of the older generation, by whom he was widely esteomed. Ho married Misi Annie N. Abbott, who caino nut to Now Zealand from the Old Country over fifty ypnrs ago in tho Wild Duck. Mrs. Phelps died twelve years ago. The late Mr Phelps leaves a family of three sons [ind fivo daughters. Two of tho sons, Messrs. William and Norman, served at tho front, nnd another, Mr. Edwin A. Phelps, is vice-president of the Commercial Travellers' Club. Surviving daughters of the Into Mr. Phelps are Mrs. IT. Cannon, Mre. .T. Collins, Mrs. W. Noes. Mrs. M. Scollard (all of Wellington), and Miss Puelps. who roside3 at Wanganui. Second Lieutenant G. Vwnon Woods, who is returning to the Dominion by Hip Pakcha, due at Wellington on May 27, enlisted early in 1915, and left with tho Sixth Ttcinforrroieiit. He. saw continumw service on Gallipoli and in France. Hβ obtained his commission nt Worcester College, Oxford. In February, li) 18, Second Lieutenant Woods, ono. of the New Zpiilandors Hum honoured, wns personally decorated with the Croix do Guerre by' King Albert of Belgium. StalT-Sergeant T. Kirton, M.M., who relumed by the Arawn, was formerly ,■> prominent'member of tlio Sydenham Football Club, and later -a Canterbury representative League player. He waa gns n.c.o. for the 3rd Brigade N. 2. Field Artillery in Franco. Mr. and Mrs. James Burnett and their two dnueliters returned to New Zealnna by the Aiwa as civilian passengere. Mr. Burnett was in tho railway sorvice for a, long time, but he retired some spars ago. He and hie family have been en. 1 gaged in war work in Great Britain,