PERSONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17279, 21 September 1916, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Mr W. A. Low arrived in Chrisl-

Captaiu Sir Robert Walker, Coldstream Guards, has been granted a month's sick leave. Ho is now visiting Auckland. Lieutenant-Colonel Porritt has returned from Samoa, whero he was acting as principal medical officer, and has resumed his practice in Wanganui.

church yesterday to arrange for the Emendation of tho film “Jane re.”

Archdeacon Batchelor, who has been engaged in missionary work in Hokkaido, Japan, for forty years, and- is spending a long furlough in New Zealand. is a visitor to \V ollington. Mr Robert Williamson, touring manager for tho Allan Wilkie feliakespeaican Company, arrived in Christchurch yesterday to make preparations lor the company's, season here. Mr R: Aherne, a well-known journalist, has returned to his home after undergoing a successful operation at the Christchurch Hospital for the removal of a cataract from ono of his eyes. Ho will bo confined to his home tor a few weeks.

Major H. H. Wright, Director ot Supply and Transport, will leave with the Seventeenth Reinforcements as officer commanding that Reinforcement. Captain Braddell, New Zealand Staff Corps, will go to the front with the Seventeenths as staff officer.

Tho Commissioner of Police, Mr J. Cullen, who has been visiting various parts of Canterbury and tho West Coast, will leave Christchurch for Wellington this evening. Ilis retirement from the Conuuissionership is expected to take effect within a few weeks. A Press Association -message says the French Mcdaille Militaire has been awarded to Sergeant-Major Boate, of Auckland, for distinguished aud heroic service at the front. Tho Hon J. Allen will go to Auckland on Friday next to present the decoration to tho sergeantmajor on behalf of the French Government.

Captain'Pelly, who received the Companionship of the Bath in recognition of gallant services rendered in the Jutland naval battle on May 31, is known in New Zealand. He was a junior lieutenant on H.M.S. Tauranga, one of the four third-class cruisers which were in tho Australasian naval squadron in 1896. Captain Pelly was then a frequent visitor to the Dominion. Councillor Scott, of Dunedin, is visiting Christchurch. On Tuesday the Mayor took him over the City Council’s power plant, -the public- baths, the domain gardens, tho I ram way Board s power-house, and the Museum. Councillor Scott stated that he was greatly interested and pleased with his visit. Ho said that he found Christchurch a clean, progressive, and beautiful city. At tho Addington Workshops on Monday, Air 33. Ruddle was the recipient of a handsome clock, on his leaving tho boiler shop to bo foreman in charge of the boilermaking department, Hillside. Mr Ruddle was very popular with liis shopmates, and all joined in congratulating him ou his promotion. Mr Ruddle served his apprenticeship at Addington, and was also a short timo at Westport as leading boilermaker. Tho presentation was made by the foreman, Mr Forbes.

Hati Houkama, paramount- chief of tho Ngatiporou tribe, who died at Auckland on Sunday, held the rank of captain in tho New' Zealand Militia, and served through the Maori 33 T ar on tho side of the British, together with his people, from the time of the outbreak of Hau-liau-ism in 1865. Ho particularly distinguished himself by a fight south-west of the head of Tokomaru Bay, called To Mawhai, where as a young man he was left in charge of a pa in which some friendly women and children had taken refuge from the rebels, who were a few miles inland, 800 strong, at a strongly fortified pa called Puke papa. The chief, Henare Pot-ae, at Tokomaru, had left to gather his loyal men from along the coast settlements, and no men were left to defend tile pa except Hati, another young man, and three old men, among whom was a well-known- whaler named Henderson. At daylight 200 Hau Haus, while the tide was out, attempted to scale the cliffs aud capture the pa, and slaughter tho occupants. Hati and the younger man, assisted by three young women, repulsed the advance of the scalers up the cliff, the old men loading the rifles. The three young women. Colonel Porter, C. 8., told a “ Post ’’ reporter in narrating tho incident, particularly distinguished themselves and fought with wonderful courage, with the result that the Hau Baus were repulsed. Eleven were killed aud a number wounded, the remainder retreating to their pa at Pukepapa, which was afterwards attacked and “ overturned ” (to use the Maori word) by Major Ropata, and the forces led by Potao and Houkama. Deceased subsequently served throughout the East Coast and Urewera raids, and also in the fighting on the 33 T est Coast at Titokowaru. He was over eighty years of age.