PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 272, 13 August 1919, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

Vice-Regal. His Excellency the Governor-General find'the Countess of Liverpool left for LyHelton on Monday evening in order to attend Hie Grand National Steeplechase Meeting. This evening His Excellency will hold nn investiture, at which a varied range of honours is to bo formally bestowed. The honours includo a Military Cross, a Red Cross honour, a K. 8., and several honours in connection with Ihe Order of the British Empire. Their Excellencies will return to AVellington on Sunday morning.

A Press Association cablegram from London states that the Rev. Harrington Lees, vicar of Swansea, has been elected Bishop of Bendigo.

Word has been received that the Military Cross lias been awarded to Captain Arthur Fair, of the 51 h Suffolk Regiment, for distinguished service during the military operations in Egypt. Captain Fair, who wns on a visit to England in 1014, joined up with the Inns of Court O.T.C. immediately on the outbreak of war, and having obtained his commission was posted to the sth Suffolk Regiment ((infantry), which proceeded to Egynt. Shortly after tho regiment's arrival in Egypt, Captain Fair was appointed, nd.iutant, and saw service in Egypt and Palestine. Before leaving Wellington Captain Fair was on the staff of tho.legal firm of Chapman,' Skerrett, Tripp, and Blair.

Mr. W. .L Reeve, clerk of the court at Feilding, wiio died on Monday, was in his Gtth year. He was born in New Zealand, and had spent nearly, 30 years in the Justice Department, having qualified tn retire on his pension next year. Mr. Jifeve acted as clerk of the court at Pahintua. Whangarei, Stratford, Rororua, ami Feilding. Ho was a keen Volunteer, and at one lime was adjutant of tho Taranaki district, retiring with the rank of captain. .He piu'adod with the Feilding Territorials on Peace Day, when ho was taken ill suddenly, and had been ailing since. Mr. and Mrs. Reeve were hard hit by the war, losing three sons and a son-in-law: in the fighting. The only remaining son is chief officer on a ship trading to China. Thcro arc four (laughters.

Officers who havo taken their discharges from the N.Z.E.F. in England include Captain 11. .11. Crosse, M.C., 2nd Lieutenant J. Galbrailh and 2ml Lieutenant !!. 11. Gibbons.

The president of the Wellington Bowling CenVi'O last evening mentioned that T)i\ Rusk, an cx-prcsidcnt c.f the Irish Bowling Association, wan at present visiting New Zealand for the benefit of his health. It was decided to invito Dr. Rusk to, meet the delegates to Hiv, centre and the presidents and secretaries of the .ifliliatotl clubs at a social even, ing to be held shortly.

Rev. ,1. D. C. Madill, of tho Stratford Presbyterian Church, who is leaving for Au-lr'alia, was last week at a farewell gathering presented with a cheque for ,'IMII, the gift of the 'congregation. Rev. J!. B. Gray (llawera), who conveyed the good wishes of tho l.Jawera friends, said that tho Taranalci Presbytery would bo sorry to loso Mr. Madill,

Tho election of a representative on the Victoria Collego Council gf teachers in secondary and technical day schools resulted as follows:-Mr. E. K. Lomas, M.A., B.Sc, Hil voles; Mr. A. C. Giil'orrl, 20; Mr. Howell, 10.

Kaikoura has losi another old identity in -Mr. George Baton, who went there about November, 1667, when ho took-up the property known as Kincaid, where ho had resided for 52 years. The lato Mr. Eaton was barn at Limerick, in Coun'tv Kerry, in the year 1835, and went lo Victoria, where he followed up mining operations, subsequently coining to New Zealand, landing at Port Cha.lmers, and was at Gabriel's Gully and the Otago goldfields, also at Hnkiiikn, where -ho worked at the Nine Mile and other West Coast minim; ventures. Mr. Eaton served as a councillor for about fifteen years.

Mr. John Fear, of Pirongia, who for some years was the Wellington representative of Bycroft and Company, Auckland, died recently at the age of 7-L Born in London, ho camo out to ■Wellington 40 years ago, and after living here for eight ycaro removed to Auckland, subsequenllv taking un a farm at Pirongia, in the Waikalo. "Be Urns left a widow, three sons, three daughter;, and six grandchildren. One of his nephews is Mr. Walter Fear, of Harrington's, Ltd., Wellington.

Brigadier-General W. Meldrum, C.H.G., D.5.0., who commanded the troops on the llliniaroa from Egypt,.left New Zealand as colonel in command of tho Wellington Mounted Rifles. In civil life '-ho practised law in Iluntervillc. He is an old boy of the Auckland Grammar School, and has represented the Auckland ■provinco both in Rugbv and cricket. Ho has had a distinguished military career. He commanded tho Wellington Mounted Rifles both on Gallipoli arid in Palestine. When General Sir E..W. C. Chaytor was promoted from the command of tho New Zealand Mounted Riflo Brigado to tha command of tho Anzac Division Colonel Mcldrum was promoted brigadier-general in command of tho New Zealand Brigade. For a time General Moldrum commanded 1 tho Second Anzac Brigade. Of the other officers who came bad; bv tho Ulimnroa, Lieu-tenant-Colonel J. N. M'Carroll, D.5.0., left New' Zealand as major commanding the 11th (North Auckland) Squadron, which ho led on Gallipoli. In Palestine lie commanded tho Auckland Mounted Rifles in succession to Colonel C. B. R. Mackesy, who camo homo on duty,.and returned to take tho Governorship of Sinai. Lieutenant-Colonel J. Fmdlay, C.B. D.R.0., was in command of tiho Canterbury Mounted Rifles, Main Body. Ho was wounded on Gallipoli. LieutenantColonel A. G. Bachelor, of Palmcrston North, who has also returned, is now in command of tho Wellington Mounted Riflps. ' He left «is a squadron commander in the Main Body.