PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 297, 25 May 1915, Page 8

PERSONAL.

'To-day is Queen Mary's birthday!, iU "-'. her Majesty is -IS years of age. An Exchange Telegraph Agency mes ■ 'sage states that the condition of the, King of Greece is very critical. j Mr. ■::. A. Robbie, headmaster of the' Ratca District High School, has volun-1 toured for service at the front. [

A Recfton message announces' the j death of Mr. r\V. C. Murfin, the. oldest journalist on the West Coast and editor of the Inangahua Herald. The members of the legal profession met at llawera yesterday, ami presented a gold watch to Mr. It. G. Hollar, who is leaving Hawera on a long health-re-cruiting trip. Major Gilbert C. Hamilton, of the 3rd Raitalion Grenadier Guards, has been mentioned in despatches. (le was aide-de-camp to Lord Islington in New Zealand, and married Miss Elgar. Private Leslie G. Hill, of the Auckland liattalion (well known in Taranaki), who was wounded in the Dardanelles fight, is, according to advice received by his father, Mr. S. Hill, of Wellington, progressing favorably. Mr. dames Craiuie, MP., who, of course, is considerably over the fighting age, has asked the Timaru Defence authorities to enrol linn as a recruit, stating Jdtaf, he is prepared to go to Euserving the Empire in any capacity.

Mr. Harper Leppor, an ex-High School lad, who is now at Sandhurst pursuing his military cour.-e, played on March 23 for the Royal Artillery College against the First Dragoon Guards, an unbeaten team, the College defeating them by II points to 3, ' Mr. Dennis O'Rorke, of Auckland, who was at Lincoln College, Oxford, for some voar.i, and a member of the Officers' Training Corps, got his commission in the King's Royal Rifles and went to France In December. He is now on the staff of a, brigadier. Amongst the vessels which took part in the bombardment of the Belgian const v, ere the Mohawk and the Maori (deftro'ers). The Mohawk was commanded by Commander E. R. G. R. Evans, C.R. Roth these vessels were recommended for services in connection with tee sinking of the submarine Ul2. Commander Evans is now in the Viking.

Mr. W. W. 'Fitzberliort and Mr. H. L. Fitzhorbert, 'both of Wellington, wero in the Argentine when the war broke out. and they went Home at the earliest opportunity to take part in the war. They have both received commissions in the I3Ui 'Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment—the 3rd South Downs. Tn the same battalion 'Mr. M. J. M. Makalua has just been promoted lieutenant. Private J. Knowles, who was a few days ago reported in the Dardanelles casualty lists as wounded, was a wellknown figure in Napier and Port Aimriri. He lias an enviable record as a saver of lives from drowning. He has saved no fewer than sixteen persons from drowning, and in addition to silver medals and certificates he holds the Royal Humane Society's gold medal, the highest life-saving award that can be obtained.

Colonel H. 0. Knox, of the Army Ser- ! vice Corps, who "had just returned from New Zealand when war broke out, was probably the first British officer to land in France. He was appointed to command the advance base depot, and remained in that position until December 10, when he was invalided home with bronchitis. After recovering he left for Cairo early in January, and is now A.Q.M.C. to the Australasian force. Pie was mentioned in despatches in February. Mrs. Knox and her two sons are remaining in England. Mr. David Sole, of Westown,, an old Taranaki identity, died yesterday. Mr. Sole was the second of several brothers who came out in the Oriental, arriving at New Plymouth on November 18, 1841. He was born on June and was therefore almost 93 years of age. .lie was employed on the original survey of the settlement under the late Mr. Carrington. Up till within a few days ago he was about in his usual robust health, but yesterday morning he was found dead in bed, having apparently passed away in his sleep. Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, who is reported as wounded, left New Zealand with the main expeditionary forte as Assistant. Adutant-fienerai.

Colonel Chaytor is a very efficient officer, and saw active service in South Africa, lie was present at operations in the Orange Free State, and afterwards in the Transvaal, including actions near Johannesburg and Khenoster Koi>. Ho was in command of the 3rd New Zealati'' Contingent, and was severely wounded. Colonel Clmytor was mentioned in despatches, and is the .possessor of the Queen's Medal, with three clasps, and the King's Medal, with two clasps. The president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr. Jas. Macintosh) has received the. following letter from Mr. J. Miura, secretary to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce of Japan (who was recently in New Zealand) .-—"Dear Sir,—l wish to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation of the'hospitality and courtesy accorded to me by yourself during my stay in New Zealand. Your kind assistance has contributed to no small

degree to the information I have been able to obtain regarding commercial conditions in New Zealand, and I hope that my mission may be the means of increasing the commercial friendship of your Dominion and my country.'' Mr. Henry Wrigloy, an old resident of Wellington, passed away at his residence at Newtown on Wednesday, in his eighty-ninth year. The deceased, who was a native of Yorkshire, came to New Zealand in ISSB, and after carrying on business in Wellington for several years he engaged in farming in the Sandon district. For the, last twenty years he had resided in Wellington. He was probably the oldest member of the Methodist Church in New Zealand, having received his first ticket of membership in 1543, ani continued in full eon-

ncction with the church ever since. 'During his association with the old Milliners street church lie filled most of the positions that arc open to laymen. Captain Thomas, of the Salvation Army Hoys' Tlome, Eltham, was given a farewell social at the Home by the officers of the Home and members of the Salvation Army Corps Band at Eltham, with whom the Captain has for some time been associated. As an educational officer at the Home, Captain Thomas has done splendid work anion" the hoys during the ffvc and a-half years since the inception of the Home. He arrived in Eltham with a sixth standard proficiency certificate, hut he worked hard until he was able to pass Matriculation with honors. Besides his scholastic accomplishments, he sat for a lieutenancy in the Territorials, and was again successful, and lias held a commission for some time. The next step in the Captain's career is a call to the front in connection with the war, and on Saturday morning he left by the express for as a lieutenant in his Majesty's service. All will wish the officer every success and trust he will return safely.—Argus.