PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 8

PERSONAL.

Mr. William llayhurst, aged 78, uncle to tliu late Colonel llayhurst, died at Woodville on Sunday morning. IAI Foxton telegram states that Mr. Alfred William Hurst, one of the pioneer settlers of the llutt, passed away tliere' on Sunday, aged Sti years and live months.

Captain John Henry Arden, the Xew Zealander with the Worcestershire!), wlio has won the Victoria Cross, was formerly a station-holder near Cape Runaway, Hawke's Bay, and was well known on the east coast.

A Sydney cable message states that the Hon. Mr. 13. R. Wise, a prominent New South Wales politician, has accepted t'lie position tii lAgcnt-Ueneral in London for Xew South Wales,

Mr.M. 3. Miller, Lyttelton, was yesterday elected chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board. Dr. Thackcr was also nominated, and the voting resulted in a tie, which was decided by drawing the names out of a hat.

J. J. Clark, Dunedin's new Mayor, is a single man of means, who has given liberally to .cricket, the public library, and other institutions. lie. is president of the Xew Zealand Cricket {Association, and is also an office-bearer in many other branches of sport. ' ..' Mr. Kenneth Wntkina, drawing master at the Auckland (Srammar. School, has resigned his position after twenty-seven years' service under the Board of Governors. His connection with secondary education in Auckland dates back to the foundation of the Girls' High School in 1878. Mr. Watkins intends to leave Xew Zealand.

As a memorial to the late Mr. Orton Stevens, of Wellington, who was killed in the railway accident at Wangamarino on .May 27, 1!)14, a cot has been donated to the We'lington Hospital. The sum of £l9B l-'s 7d was subscribed for the ■purpose by friends of the late Mt. Stevens, and the Hospital Board has agreed, upon their request, to name it " The Orton Stevens' Memorial Cot." A rather remarkable case of enlistment is that in which the whole five sons of the Rev, H. Lcfroy Yorke, M.A., 8.D., of Liverpool, have joined the army—three in the medical division and two in the ranks. Tho Rev. Mr. Vorke's brother, Mr. J. C. Yorke, of Masterton, also has his only son—within the age-limit—serving at the Dardanelles with the Xew Zealand Force.

The commencement day of the Melbourne University for grunting degrees was hold on April 17, and amongst the list of Bachelors of Law was the name of Mr. 1). K. Wanklyn, the. degree being granted "in absentia." Mr. Wanklyn, who is the eldest son of Mr. W. It T. Wanklyn, of Christchurch, is in camp at Trcntham. A considerable number of degrees were granted similarly, the Chancellor, Sir John Madden, stating that the University had .provided about 450 students who were cither at or going to the front..

Mr. H. X Watson, of Palmcrston North, who proceeded to England with ilrs. Watson and family about a year ago, has offered his services in the war, and his help has been readily accepted'. He has enlisted for six months with the Croix Rouge Francaise as driver of an ambulance in the Vosges. This ambulance is working on the firing line and taking the wounded men straight from the trenches, so that the work is dangerous and perilous, but such considerations do not weigh with men of Mr. Watson's stamp. All the men in this part of the French service are specially picked, and Mr. Watson'a line physique should enable him to stand the strain sucecssfulv.

The Victoria Cross' was recently awarded to Lieutenant F. iA. de Pass, of the 3!lth Poona Horse, for conspicuous bravery near Fcstubort, France. Lieutenant de Pass was a Jew, and the first Jewish-born soldier to win the V.C., hut he did not live to enjoy the »reat distinction. He was killed' in a second attempt to capture- a Gorman sap, whore, in the terse language of the official despatches, •• lie destroyed a tra- | verse m the face of the enemy's bombs," and whence "ho subsequently rescued under a heavy fire a wounded man who was lying exposed." His gallant notion has been widely commented upon by English newspapers,.which also refer t'o .the, honorable part-the Jewish community is taking in the war. There are only a quarter of a million Jews m the United Kingdom, and many of them are men of alien birth who are not eligible to wear the King's uniform yet no fewer than 10,000 Jews are serving in the British Army and Navy. It is stated that in proportion to ' the number of able-bodied males .capable of bearing arms none of the composite communities which make up the British Empire have a better record than the Jews. The groat distinction won by Lieutenant de r-ass will, it is hoped, help to lessen the prejudice against his race that, obsessed by the love of gain they care little for the more immortal virtues and value their lives more than their country's weal, A .farewell social was tendered on ruesday evening to Mi and Mrs. H Dixon and family by the Manaia ■Methodist Church members Mr. Dixon has been postmaster at Manaia for the last two years and has been promoted and transferred to Featherston, During lus term of oflice there he has proved « capable and zca'mts officer; he lias established the rural mail delivery service, and increased the number of telephone subscribers from 14 to 105. Mi'. Dixon has been a prominent member of the Methodist Church, and the function on Tuesday ovenim* was largely attended. The- Uev. VV S -Veal presided, and, on behalf of' the choir* presented Mr. Dixon with a handsome inkstand. Mr. Samlford, circuit steward, presented Mr. Dixon, on behalf of the church members, with a Morris /-hair, Mrs. Dixon with a fish service and the Misses Dixon with an Indian bracelet and ornamental brooch respectively Mr. S. Wills, on behalf ot the church trustees, and Mr S Heunott, IV,v the congregation! eW - gisod Mr. Dixon's efforts in the interests "I the church.—Star. j

At the dose of a Sovmanliy Presbyteriani Church meeting on Tuesday evening-. Mr <!. W. Miteiu.il, 0 „ b ( 4lf of the congregation, presented the Rev Mr ,',' iTr W, V,' « silw -»"»">ted inkstand an, Mrs. Butler with a handsome Jan. tin-> "eio all aware that when Mr B.i(. <;i- came to Xormanby matters in connection w,tl, the Presbyterian Church wore in a poor state, but now, thanks to Mr " i'. 1 ' 8 pn !7" v a,ltl Perseverance, after ° months residence in Normanby 1n,,-; I,'" ' f ilm Werc ' H ' rl "M« "'ore "inshing than they had ever been before. U0n0,., i„ OVIW to shmv tlien appreciation of Mr. Butler's efwts, the members of the congregation I M.e,l to make, him a small present in tie fori,, of lm mkstand, and also asked Him to accept, on behalf of Mrs. ))ut- •; 1- . « Jin. dish „s a slight token of I uh members, and in recognition of e valuable askance in the musical paH ot the church sew ees Air tt,,fl,>,. fiilts to Mrs. ]?„tlor and himself. He w.sbed also to thank the people of \„- """'by a»<l .listekt for the .great kindcss «„,I courtly- t1,,,y b a ,l extended to ,!l,'s «ife and hm.se.lf sipe, : .J, P ,h»d.*,.. ft' m "f- O'fmr he hoped'W be j bk to continue 1,,s work in Noriwm .