PERSONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 119, 18 April 1940, Page 6

PERSONAL.

The friends of Colonel J. IT. Whyte, who lias l>eon ill for some days, will be pleased to learn that his condition is now showing an appreciable improvement. Air J. Cassidy, assistant stationmaster, lias returned to Palmerston North from Napier and Hastings where he had been convalescing after undergoing an operation at the Palmerston North Hospital. f Air J. Thorn, AI.P. for Thames, and At rs Thorn, who have lived in Thames since 1936, have deemed for personal reasons to remove to Wellington at the end of April. They previously resided in AVellington. , Air G. B. Ward, the well-known Wellington golfer, who at the outbreak of war joined an Auxiliary Service as ambulance driver, was soon commissioned to the Royal Army Service Corps. He lias the rank of captain, and he lias been in France since February. His brother, Air H. M. Ward, has a commission in the Royal Devon A’eomanry, at present stationed at Okehampton. Air A. E. AlcAlurtric, AI.A.. who has been appointed Assistant-Director of Education, was, following a brilliant scholastic and athletic and a number of years’ experience, in various types of schools, appointed an inspector of schools in Auckland in 1926. in .July, 1933, lie became senior inspector of schools, AVanganui K and in 1937 he was appointed to the position of senior inspector in the head office of the department. Following the retirement of Dr. Alellraith, Chief Inspector of Primary Schools, last year. Mr MeMnrtrie was promoted to that position. AVhan riding at a meeting 'of the Afanawatu Hunt at AVaituna yesterday, Mr L. H. Collinson, president of the Alanawatu Racing Club and a keen follower of the hounds, suffered a broken arm just above the wrist. Air Collinson was riding Petrarch and was trying to give a load to a young horse over a fence. The young horse ran down the fence, taking Petrarch with him and Air Collinson was unseated. The second horse, as it passed, struck Air Collinson with a hind log, breaking an arm. A motion of sympathy with Air Collinson was passed at a meeting, of the Palmerston North Fire Board to-day. Air A. 0. AVimsett, a son of Air and Airs A. F. AVimsett, of Palmerston North, who is a member of the staff of the Taihape District High School, has been promoted to the position ol first assistant there. Air AA'imsett, who is a former pupil of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School, has held several positions in the AYanganui Education Board’s district. Earlier he was for two years on the staff of Croydon Boys’ College, at AVellington, and holds the teacher’s A certificate. He is keenly interested in the Territorial movement, swimming and lifesaving, and founded the Utaihape Climbing Club. The officer who commanded the cable ship Iris, now the Recorder, when she recaptured von Luckner and his party, "’ho escaped from ALotuihi Island in 1917, Captain AYilliam Robert liblmes, has died at his home at Bucklauds Beach, Auckland, aged 78 years. Captain Holmes, who held the rank of Lieutenant-Commander. R.D.R.N.U., retired about 1023, after a long career at sea. He was associated with the Eastern Telegraph Company and was later cable engineer to the Italian Government in the Ateditcrraneau Sea. He was also associated with the famous yacht Elettra, belonging to the Italian pioneer of wireless. Signor Alarconi. Captain Holmes took command of the Iris about 1916 and in tlie following year it was dispatched from Auckland to search for von Luckner and other escaped prisoners, who were then in possession of the scow Aloa. After a stormy passage, the Iris reached the Kcfmadecs, finally sighting a scow answering to the description of tho Aloa off Curtis Island. The Iris at full speed chased the scow, which hoisted all sail and (led - before the wind. It was rapidly overhauled however and a shot fired across the hows from the Iris produced immediate results and tho Germans wore recaptured.