PERSONAL

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 2 June 1919, Page 8

PERSONAL

The Hon. W.-D. S. Mac' Donald left for the South Island on Saturday evening on a visit to Dunedin and Invercargill. Commissioner Howard, who is visiting the Dominion in connection with the Salvation Army reorganisation scheme, was tendered a civic welcome at Auckland on Saturday by the Mayor. Major N. W. B. B. Thorns, D.5.0., M.C, New Zealand. - Staff -Corps, 'who recently returned from the front after four and a-half years' service with the'N.Z.E.F. in Egypt, on Gallipoli, and in France, has been appointed Assistant-Military Secretary, vice Lieutenant-Colonel D. B. Blair, D.5.0., M.C, appointed commandant of Trentham Camp. Major D. J. Sweetzer, Commandant of Trentham Camp, having ■ been granted leave' of absence, Lieutenant-Colonel D. Blair, D.5.0., M.C, N.Z.S.C., assumes the duties of Acting Camp Commandant from Ist Jmio. Captain A. A. Luckham, Camp Adjutant and O.C. Detention Barracks, having been granted leave of absence, Lieutenant L. 6. Gosa, N.Z.S.G., assumes the duties of Acting Camp Adjutant and Officer-in-Charge Detention Barracks, from the same date. Mr. John Hodge, of Greytown, has received word that his . brother, Mr. Thomas Hodge, has succumbed to a severe attack of influenza at Dunmore, Australia. The deceased, who was wellknown and highly respected throughout tho Wairarapa, was the third son of the late Mr. John Hodge, and ■ leaves a widow and young family. His relatives are Mr. J. Hodge (Greytown), ■ Mrs. Morisou (Glenmorven), Mrs. Mitchell (Greytowni, Mrs. Qum (Greytown), and Mrs. M'Girr (Wellington). I Major Tracy, M.C, who returned in charge of the troops on the s.s. Paparoa, is the eldest son of Mr. J. Tracy, locomotive foreman at Dunedin. Ho was educated at tho Sydenham School, the West Christchurch. High School (where ho matriculated) and at Canterbury College, where he graduated as a Master of Law. While at Canteriiry College he was a member of the officers' training corps, also he took great, interest in athletics. Immediately on the1 outbreak of war, he offered his services, and was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in tho Otago Infantry Battalion. He was severely wounded in the hand in the Gallipoli campaign. After being in England for a time he rejoined his unit, and then went to France. He was at this time Adjutant to the Otago Battalion. After many months fighting in France ho volunteered to go to Mesopotamia on a dangerous and secret service. During ] this campaign ho had many n;irrow escapes, and, moreover, was the only New Zea-lander who reached Baku. He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in the. Somnie Battle. Altogether, he was on active service nearly five years. Mr. Robert Gardner, of Terrace End, Palmerston North, who died last week at the advanced age of 77 years, was born at Greenock, Scotland, in 1842, and as a young man went out to Queensland, where he landed in 1862, going into business hi Itoekhamptou. He was associated with some of the earliest mining ventures in Australia, and was one of the pioneers of the sugar-planting industry in Queensland. In 1876 he came to New Zealand, and was in the ironmongery business- in Lambton-quay, near the site of the Gresham Hotel. For many years Mr. Gardner was on the directorate of the Petone Woollen Mills. In 1887 he embarked in the flaxmilling industry, operating first at Foxton and later at Piaka (near lvoputaroa). He was appointed a member of the Flax Commis-. j sion, and went through the Dominion I twico iv connection with improvements i for the preparation of the fibre for market. Mr. Gardner was also interested in farming pursuits, in which he embarked in 1888, first, at Piaka and afterwards at Tokonuiru, and more recently near Stratford. He went to reside in Palmerston North first in 1885, and lived iv College-street, and acted as Government Land Valuer from 1897 until he was superannuated in 1908. After being away for a time, he returned to Palmerston North in 1902, and took up his residence at Terrace End, where ho lived for the remainder of his life. He took a very keen interest in anything that affected tho welfare of tho district, and until his health failed was an active member of the Philosophical Society. Ho is survived by his widow and a family of five cons and seven daughters.