PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 28, 7 June 1913, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Colonel Cbaytor, who had been on a short official visit to Stratford,, returned to Palmerston by this morning's mail'train.

A Sif Joseph Ward will (Bail, for New Zealand on June 20.

Mr S.. J. Kennington, chairman of the Clifton County Council, passed through by mail train this morning ft* \, Kington, en route for the South ißand, where ho will spend a fortnight or three weeks' holiday.

Mr W. Flannagan, railway enginedriver of Christchurch, who has for some time been undergoing a course of study, had hisWforts recognised by being given a position in the Chief Mechanical Engineer's office, and last week left for Wellington to take up his new duties. The Canterbury branch of the Association he has belonged to decided to present Mr Flannagan with the Association's medallion in recognition of his efforts to advance himfcplf.

Mr and Mrs C. Gaze, of Franklin road, Auckland, celebrated their diamond wedding on Wednesday. Mr and Mrs Gaze were married at Tunbridge Chapel, St. Pancras, London, on June 4th, 1853. They arrived in the Dominion in March, 1860. Mr Gaze was residing in Otahuhu, and was a member of the militia during the Maori War, but afterwards he removed to Auckland; where he has since lived. There is a family of two sons and four daughters, eighteen

grandchildren, and nine great-grand-children.

Dr Kenneth Mackenzie, the a eldest son of th© High Commissioner, who is coming out from England with the |tttention of practising his profession in Auckland) won during his medical

course four medals and nine class

: prizes. In 1908 he graduated M. 8., Ch.B., with''first-class honours at Edinburgh University, and Was awar-

ded tlie Freeland Barbour Research Scholarship 'in ' Midwifery. Three years later* he graduated M..D. of Edinburgh," and was awarded a gold medal and the Victoria. Jubilee Memorial Prize in'obstetrics fof a on the secretion" ! of milk. ; In 1902 he was ' admitted Vfelldw "of the Royal Col»lege of Surgeons of England, and also ■ passed the examination for the de-

gree of Master of Siirgery of Edinburgh University. During the past year he has been medical superintendent of the Stanley Hospital, Liver-

pool, and has also been devoting him- . self' to, the study of local anaesthesia, on which subject'he presented a thesis for the degree of Master of • Surgery of Edinburgh. *

• , General Sir John French, Chief of the Imperial General Staff, who was recently gazetted a Field-Marshal, was > trained in the cavalry. He was recognised, by his associates as a good cavalry leader years before his country ever heard much of him; and he probably would have languished in some low* and without fame had not war fortunately come along and given him his chance to make good in the' eyes of the public and I gain official distinction and advancement. In war he was> extremely popular wiih the rank and file, and his soldiers fought about as much for French as they did for the Government, so great was their devotion to their leader. French has a record of picturesque deeds personally performed in the 7 Boer country. One of his war "stunts" was his escape from Lady smith' oh thir last train that left that town before it was beleagured. He undertook the task of carrying to safety si'hatch of exceedingly important papers' and documents. These he secreted in a crevice in the compartment of the car he occupied, crawled under the seat, and in these cramped quarters travelled to safety tinder a veritable hail of Boer bullets, many of which splintered the woodwork, of the car and bored the upholstery of, the seat below which French lay. Because of his fighting ability he was the idol of the British public during the war, and his strategy so won the admiration of De Wet that he announced French the only General on the British side , of the bloody controversy. Prior to 1 entering the Army, French served for four years as a naval cadet and midshipman in the Navy He has been Chief of the Imperial General Stair since 1911. ,