PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 204, 24 May 1920, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Maseey) returned to Wellington from tho south yesterday, after bidding farewell to the Prince of Wales at Christchurch. Sir William Fraser, who was Minister in charge of the tour of tho Prince of Wales, returned to Wellington from Christchurch yesterday. Tho Minister of Public .Works (Mr. Ooates) is returning from his tour of the South Islftiid to-morrow, coming back to Wellington by way of Picton. General Birdwood will arrive here from Sydney on Monday next. Tho Mayor has arranged to accord tho distinguished officer a civio welcome in the Toirn Hall on Tuesday, June 1, probably at noon. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) arrived back from Christchurch by the Wahine yesterday. Mr. J. G. Eule, Assistant-Postmaster at Christchurch, is at present in Wellington. Word has been received of tho death of the Kov. William Douglas, M.A., at his residence, Hastings. The lato Mv. Douglas was 83 years of age, and was ordained and inducted to the charge, of Akaroa in 1874. Ho was in Hokitika from 1881 to 1907, and resigned to take .charge of the new parish of Evans Bay in 1907. In 1913 ho retired from activo duties, and has resided eineo in Havclock and Hastings, where ho has dono much work for tho Church as a relieving minister. Mr. Douglas was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1882, and was for many years convener of the Assembly Committee for Missions Amongst the Chinese of New Zealand.

Dr. W. H. Johnston (Wellington), who Bat at Edinburgh University for bis F.8.C.R., lias gone to London as surgical specialist on the Medical Appeal Board. Mr. 'Ernost Gilloii, Chief Mechanical Engineer of tho Railway Department, who accompanied tho Prince of Wales during his New Zealand tour, was presented by His Royal Highness at Christchurch with a solid silver cigarette case in recognition of the excellence of tho train arrangements made and carried out by tho Department. Mr. Gillon returned to Wellington yesterday.

Lieut.-Colonel H. W. Bryant, V.D.. who died at Brighton (Victoria) on May G, aged GO years, was a popular member of medical and military circles.- His father, Mr. James Bryant, was a wellknown cricketer in tlio early' days of Victoria, and his uncle, Mr. W. J. Hammereley, was for ninny years sporting editor of "Tho Australasian." After taking tho degrees of L.R.C.P. mid L.R.C.B. in Edinburgh, Liout,-Colonel Bryant reJurncxl to Molbourne, and practised first at Williamstown and afterwards in Collins Streot. As a surgeon he was long connected with tho military forces, ana previously with tho Naval Brigade. For his work in command of No. 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, which did roagnilicont service under almost heart-breaking conditions in tho early days of tho Gallipoli campaign, Lieut.-Colonel Bryant received mention in Sir lan Hamilton'* dispatches. Tho strain, responsibilities, ami hardships of that timo told soverely 011 his health.

Mr. J. O'Donovan, M.V.0., Commissioner of Police, who has been touring tho. Dominion with the 6taft' attached to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, returned to Wellington from the 60utli by tho Wahino yesterday morning.

Captain H. Pharazyn, of Waipawa, Hawke'o Bay, who went on active scrvicii early in the war, returned to the Dominion by the lonic last week.

Dr. N. Gadsby, of Te ICuiti, who bus been on active service, returned by the lonic. He saw service with tho torpedo boat branch of the British Navy.

Captain R. Burn, eldest son of Mr. J. H. Burn, of Petone, returned on Sunday after an absence of nine years abroad. During the war Captain Burn patented a number of inventions, and after service in Egypt as second in command of the New Zealand Motor Transport, ho was appointed to the position of Experimental Officer to the War, Inventions Boardi which dealt with all patents in connection with the war. Later ho was appointed Assiistqnt-Director of Aircraft Production with headquarters at Henden. Recently Captain Burn had been noting as Home buyer for tlio engineering firm of Messrs. Burn and Sons, ot Petone.

News was received in Petone on Thursday of the death in Sydney rf Mr. Roland Cotter, formerly of Wellington and tho Wairnrapa; The late Mr. Cotter, who was a member of a well-known Wairarapa family, was a semi-invalid, and his death, which occurred suddenly on May 10, was not unexpected. Mrs. Commetti, of Petone, is a sister of deceased.

Mr. A. W. Robertson, who has resigned from the War Expenses Department to take up a position in this city, was presented with an attache caso and pipe from the officers of tho Department. Mr Forgie, who made the presentation, referred to Mr. Robertson's energy and zeal an officer during the four years he had been with the Department, and expressed, on behalf of the officers, cheir aincercst good wishes for tho 'future.

An Aucklander whose association with the city dates back to the days of early settlement died last week in t'lio person of Mr. George Gordon Aickin, of Clifton Road, Heme Bay. The deceased was tho .fifth son of the late Dr. Thomas Aickin, and arrived in Auckland on the ship Mermaid on October 18, 1859. He joined tho Railway Department over forty years ego and after service in the Auckland gootls office became stationmaster at Cani-' bridge. He was appointed stationmaster at Onehunga, New Plymoutib, and Wellington successively. About eleven years ago he'retired from the Department, on account of a breakdown in health, and to Auckland, where he has since resided. Mr, Aickin is survived by his widow, five sons, and three daughters. Four of tho sous were on active service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The eldest son, Mr, G. L. Aickin, is in Sydney. The others are: Mr. R. Aickin, private secretary to the Hon. J. G. Coates; Mr. E. G. Aickin, clerk of the Otamatea County Council; Mr. P. W. Aickin, Morrinsville; and Mr. C. Aickin, Auckland.