PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 28 July 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Writing from 1 Scotland early in June to friends in New Zealand Sir Walter Buchanan gives ail interesting account of his visit to the battlefields of Fraiice, from which ho had just returned. On his return to England Sir Walter, in company with Mr. Massey, paid several visits to the Shipping Controller and to the War Office authorities in "an endeavour to impress upon them the urgent necessity of sending more vessels to New Zealand to life the immense stores of refrigerated cargoes here awaiting shipment. i'he difficulties confronted,, ho states, made it clear to him how it was that in 6pite of Mr. Massey's incessant efforts' the number of vessels sent here had not como up to expectations. As ?n example of tho course of events Sir Walter Buchanan found that out of 20 ships scheduled to leave London with troops in February only four had been actually dispatched because of strikes at tho London docks which prevented the ships being fitted up. Mr.' Massey was blamed for this delay, whereas, of course, he was absolutely powerless to contend against such happenings. At time .of writing Sir Walter Buchanan was in excellent health and was greatly-enjoying his stay in Scotland.

Mr. W. W. Snodgrass, Mayor of Nelson, has been spending the tfeek-end in i Wellington, and will leave for Christchurch to-night on a brief holiday.

Mr. T. Fletcher, headmaster, Cheviot School, Canterbury, has been appointed editor of "The School Journal."

Tho death occurred a few months ago in England of Mr. Alexander Binning Monro. an old resident of Marlborough, 'l'ho lato Mr. Monro was the second son of .Mr, Alexander Binning Monro, of "Aucbenbowie," Stirling, Scotland, and a nephew of tho late Sir David Monro, one of tho early Nelson settlers. Mr. Monro was born in 1838, and came to New Zealand in the ship Cresswell. After he left Marlborough ho lived in Nelson, but latterly in New Plymouth until lie went to England. Up to tho vofv last he maintained a keen interest in New Zealand, and his memory of tho old days was most vivid. Nothing gave hi.'ii more pleasure than to recall old happti ings, and tho names of liis associates. The lato Mr. Georgo Monro was his voinisier brother, and the two owned Vallevfield and tho Langriugb rims. Mr. Monro was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Cotterell, of Nelson. His seco.-il *wifo was an English lady, now residing in England. His two daughters and four sons aro all living. Mr. Monro kept up a correspondence with some old Nsw Zealand friends until just before his death, aiul especially mentioned the Brent kindness and hospitality lie and his brothei always received at- the hands of the lato Mr. aud Mrs. Mowat, of -Altiinarlock, Awaterc. General Sir Charles Monro was a cousin of his, being tlid son of the late Mr. Harry Monro, of Australia.

Mr. W. E. Wilkes, Mayor of Richmond, arrived in Wellington on Saturday to meet his eldest son, Corporal 6. Wilkes, who returned from London by the Ruapehu after nearly three years' service with a machine-gun section of t.he N.Z.E.F.

The Rev. W. Bullock, who lias been serving with the N.Z. Expeditionary Force as chaplain, has returned, and will take up tho work of organising the Church of England Men's Association.

Last Friday tho employees of the Petone Railway Workshops gathered together to bid farewell to one of; their number, Mr. G. B. Bartlett,, who was resigning after 22 years' servico with the Department. The workshop foreman, Mr. Johnston, in presenting Mr. Bartlett with a travelling bap on behalf of the employees, referred in eulogistic terms to the qualities of tho recipient and wished him every success. Mr. Bartlett suitably responded.

Mr. 15. Tregear was knocked down by a motor-car on Saturday afternoon, tout escaped serious injury. Yesterday his condition was entirely satisfactory.

News lias .boon received in Wellington that Captain Trevor Holmden, M.C., a son of Air. H. H. Holmden, has been made a major, and.is now acting in the judicial department. at Hilla, not far from Bagdad. Major Holmden, who_ is an LL.B. of Victoria College,--left New Zealand with the Main Body, and whilo serving at Gallipoli received a 'commission in the AYorcestershire Regiment. His duties in Mesopotamia are of an onerous nature. He is called upon to try many important cases, and is having a very busy time. Mrs. Holmden (a daughter of Sir Robert and Lady Stout) hopes to be able to leave Wellington nest month to rejoin her husband in Mesopotamia. The friends of Mr. John Holmes, lata of Blenheim, will regret to learn of his death, which took place on Saturday afternoon at the Brougham Street Hospital.