PERSONAL

Southland Times, Issue 24879, 20 October 1942, Page 4

PERSONAL

Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Mackenzie, officer commanding No. 12 military area, leaves this morning for Christchurch on official business. He expects to return at the end of the week. Last evening the officers of the Invercargill battalion of the Home Guard took the opportunity of conveying to Lieutenant-Colonel W. Bell, who recently resigned his position as director of No. 12 Home Guard group, their sincere appreciation of the excellent work he has done for the Guard in his area and their best wishes for the future. Mr F. R. Picot, senior New Zealand supply officer in Australia, returned to the Dominion recently to report to the Government. Mr Picot, who was accompanied by his wife and daughter, said he was unable to state whether he would remain in the Dominion or return shortly to Australia.—P.A. Mr P. H. Macdonald recently retired from the service of the Union Steam Ship Company after an unbroken period of 41 years at sea in the company’s vessels. This is believed to be a record for the Mercantile Marine of the Dominion. In 1911 he became chief engineer of the Kaituna, and from that date until his retirement he served in a similar capacity in no fewer than 28 vessels of th? company’s fleet, including the Manuka, the Mararoa, the Moana, the Moeraki, and the Mokota. He was chief engineer of the Waikouaiti when that vessel was wrecked on Dog Island in November 1939.