PERSONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 246, 16 September 1940, Page 6

PERSONAL.

The death is announced from Washington of Mr W. B. Bankhead, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Reported missing as a result of air operations on September 2, Pilot-Officer lan Kirk, eldest son of the late Mr J. Kirk and Mrs Kirk, of Papatoetoe, has now been reported a prisoner of war. President Roosevelt has sent to the Senate the nomination of Mr Jesse Jones ns Secretary of Commerce, states a Washington message. Mr Jones is Federal Loan Administrator and chairman of the Export and Import Bank. A cablegram from Princeton (New Jersey) says that Mr J. H. Chapman, the New Zealander, is among five economic attaches who- have arrived from Geneva to continue .tho League of Nations work in America. Mr Chapman is a son of Mr W. L. H. Chapman, of Palmerston North.

Apparently struck by a piece of falling rock as he walked through Manganui Gorge, Mt. Egmont, yesterday afternoon, Mr Oswald Joseph Riley, of Stratford, received head injuries from which lie died about two hours later in Stratford Hospital. Mr Riley was tho last member of a party of four, none of whom saw the rock fall. •

Squadron-Leader P. Fowler, of Palmerston North, left to-day for Wigram aerodrome and later will take up a position at Ohatea, on the ground instructional staff. He was farewellcd at a function given in his honour by officials of the Middle Districts Aero Club on Saturday evening, when those present extended Ivjst wishes and congratulations to ‘him.

Lieut.-Colonel D. A. C. Lilburne, of Wanganui, Officer Commanding the First Battalion of the Wellington-West Coast Regiment, was a visitor to Palmerston North on Saturday, when he inspected B. Company of the regiment, which is drawn from this centre. Lieut.-Colonel Lilburne was accompanied by the battalion adjutant, Lieut. L. G. S. Cross, N.Z.S.C. In the latest issue of the New Zealand Gazette under the appointments of officers of the New Zealand Military Forces is the name of Mr D. Stuart, of Palmerston North, who has been given the rank of lieutenant and appointed company commander of No. 3 Training Battalion, Mobilisation Camp, Trentham. Mr Stuart, who, up to September, 1936, had served with the Imperial Army for 22 years, went through the last war, serving both in Mesopotamia and Egypt. He came to New Zealand after leaving the Imperial Army and has been in business in Palmerston North.

Arrangements liavo been made for Major-General Sir John Duigan, K.8.E., C. 8., D. 5.0., Chief of the New Zealand General .Staff, to visit Australia. General Duigan was in Wanganui on Saturday, when he inspected the First Battalion Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington’s Own). He left later for Auckland and will leave for Australia some time this week. In the general scheme of defence in the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia are very closely associated and that requires that the executive heads of the fighting services must keep in constant touch with one another.