PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 100, 29 July 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A London cable states that Earl Lyt'ton succeeds the Duke of Devonshire as Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

Chaplain-Major J. A. Jacob, family Vicar of Hawera, has taken up duties at Trentham Camp. A Sydney cable states that Kenneth Marshall, formly on the Press Assocaition stall', has passed the officers' school gaining top place, and has been gazetted lieutenant. A London cable states that Captain Alastai'r Thomson, of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, third son of Mr. Sinclair Thomson, of Geralddine, New Zealand, was killed in France. An old settler, known to many in Taranaki, has just passed away at Auckland, in the person of Mr Jas. Preston, formerly a farmer in various parts of Taranaki. He had been in New Zealand for 53 years.

Mr H. L. Hcmaa, who is wellknown in the Str.tford district, haying been for som > time on the staff of the Stratford Evening Post, is, his many friends wi'l regret to learn, at present an inmate of the New Plymouth Hospital, suff.ring from the after-effects of a severe cold.

Mr. Frank Sbacklock, formerly Mayor of Dunodin, has volunteered to go as a Y.M.C.A. Commissioner to Flanders, and to take ins own motorcar for service at the front. He will probably, sail with the other commissioners appointed, on August,B. Mr. H. Smeeton, the well-known Auckland merchant, will be another of the commissioners. Bifleman Lawrence Butler, of Manaia, was killed in action on July 8 in France. He was a very popular and promising young man. being always to the fore in social functions, and was a prominent member of tbe Manaia Mirncipial Brass Band and also of the Manaia cricket and football clubs. At Woolston on Sunday the death occurred, at the age of 89 years, of Mr Benjamin Mather. He leaves two sons, one daughter, 25 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Five grandchildren are on active service.