PERSONAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 25, 28 August 1916, Page 3

PERSONAL.

The death of the Rev. C. J. Merton, vicar of Helcnsvillc, and I'orm,erly of Canterbury, is announced. A cable from New York reports the death of Mr John Lancaster Spalding. Mr Mailahicn, Coalitionist, lias been returned unopposed for the Colne Valley by-election, due to Mr Leach’s retirement through illness.— London cable.

A cable from Melbourne reports the death of Rev. Father Shaw, who had jijsb completed the sale of his wireless plant to the Commonwealth Government. Mr F. Styles has disposed of his farm on''Warwick Road, and has purchased a residence at West End, New Plymouth. Mr Styles intends to take up his residence in Now Plymouth at the commencement of next month. In Saturday’s casualty list appeared the name of Trooper Evan David Jones, who died of influenza at the Military Hospital, 'Bedford, on August 21. l x is next-of-kin is Mrs P. Midhirst. Mr Fred. Jetscn (well-known as the

“concrete king”), has been passed as. medically fit for the Reinforcements. Mr Jetscn has refused a twelve months’ engagement at 10s per day, and although a “benedict,” has decided to serve his King and Country. The late Mr Dugald McKellar (secretary for Customs) who died at Wellington on Friday, was a son of Dr. Dugald McKellar, of London, and came out to New Plymouth by the barque St. Michael, in December, 1852. Latterly he lived in KelbourneJ Wellington.

Mr J. W. Burkitt, of Toko, has received a piece of a rifle grenade from Captain Murray Urquhart, from France. In a short letter, Captain Frquhart states that-it was a piece of the grenade which killed Private Frank Burkitt on June 12. Mr Burkitt has placed the relic in Mr Allen’s sweet shop m Broadway. . '

Mrs Arabella Me^songoiv' 1 wlidse death occurred on Friday, was a member of the Mace family, who came to Now Plymouth from Madeira in the barque St. Michael, arriving on December 2, 1852. On J.uly 25, 1.863, she married Lieutenant W. B. Messenger, who was made a captain a fgw days later, and eventually rose to tile rank of lieutenant-colonel. ,

The death occurred recently- at Cairo of Mrs Burrows, the wife of Mr T bin Burrows, champion did) swinger of the world. Recently she had been very active in organising entertainments for the soldiers since she went to Egypt about a year ago with her husband, who is attached tp the medical staff at the Citadel, Cairo.

Staff-Captain Carter, of the Salvation Army, is announced to visit Stratford on Thursday next. The Staff-Captain is the Dominion Organiser for the Life-Saving Scouts, an un&ectarian organisation for the fnoral and physical well-being of hoys, tbos’o of whom between the ages of nine and eighteen years, are invited to meet the Staff-Captain at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

Mr and Mrs Henry M. Shepherd, of Auckland, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding on Tuesday. The service was performed in Grafton Road Wesleyan Church on August 22, 1866, by the Rev. W. Morley, now Dr. Morley, who resides in Australia. Tim bride of fifty years ago was Miss Selina Stephenson, of Newton. Mr Shepherd was, born in Now Plymouth 73 years ago, and is a well-known member of the Auckland Stock Exchange.

Mr P. D. Hoskins, accounts cleric of the General Post Office, Wellington, has been awarded the Gray memorial modal for the year 1914. This j medal is awarded by the Post and Telegraph Department- annually to

the officer making the best suggestion adopted by. the Government for improved methods in the work of the service, ’the medal also peipetnates the memory of the late William Gray, who for many years occupied the position of secretary to the department.