PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1915, Page 4

PERSONAL.

The Chief Justice. (Sir Robert Stout), who Ims been presiding over tlie Supreme Court at New Plymouth, leaves for Wellington this morning. Mrs. R. J. Seddon has received a cable message from London stating that her son, Mr. John Stuart Seddon, has received a commission in the Royal Field Artillery. Mr. Seddon, who is the youngest son of the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, left New Zealand with the First Contingent for Samoa, and after serving for some time there he returned to Wellington, and left' eight weeks ago for London.

The vicar of St. John's Anglican Church, the Rev. E. Fletcher, who volunteered his services for the front some 12 months ago and again quite recently, !ms now been advised by the Bishop of the diocese that his services will be accepted. He stands fifth on the list of applicants (says the Auckland Herald). Some little time back Mr. Fletcher was offered a commission in the Lancashire Fusiliers, of the voluntary corpx of which he was formerly a member, but was muhle to accept because the Bishop would not allow his clergy to go in any other capacity than as chaplains. j- Colonel ('!. \V. S. Patterson, who has been appointed to act as administrator at Samoa during the absence of Colonel Logan on two months' leave, has held the position of Coast Defence Commander ;it Auckland since the position was crciili-d four years ago. He has always been closely associated with garrison artillery work, having joined that branch of tin- volunteer servii-" -nmo 20 years ago. Colonel Patterson is the senior Territorial officer in the Auckland military district. He will leave for the islands bv the Taliine on her return trip.

A representative uutliiM'iiiL' i>f'|i:i-t and present uiti,,■!■■. of the Land- ami Survey Department m:is lii'Ul on Wednesday iii tlio I'ailiamciitiiiv Jhiildinc's when'the l?i;?lit I lon. W. h\ .\U\s<e\, on belmlf of the stall' of* Hip department, presented Mr .lames Mackenzie, (lie laic t'mlorSccretiirv. with it hand-onio roll-to'i de-k. ofliee .hair and fitting, to.aellicr wit!, a Inautifnl silver tea-set and'other silver plate, as a iiieinenlu of his association witli the department ami his lon- service (heroin. Mr. T. VHi oil - rick, tin- pre-ent Kndor-Sorrctaiy, tilled the chair, and explained that the «atlteriii!< was held to te-tifv to ihe esteem in whieli Mr. Mackenzie was held hv all ollieers, after \vl.ieh he called oil"'.! Mr. Massei. as Minister for Lands, to make the presentation. M>\ \ta--ey. hi a felicitous npefeli, detailed tile recipient's otlicial career, and added his personal testimony to Mr. Mackenzie's faithful and lenoiliv service-. Mr. K. 11. Wilmot, Siirvevor-rieueriil. ami Mr I'. T. H'S'eill, the As-isf:,!!! Tudor-Sccrctary. al-o spoke rcjar.tnie- hi eonueclion with the department, and Ihe -ervics !„. 1,.,,! ,•,,„ deied, whilst three former Nirvcvorff'eneral. Me-si-- .| : ,„„... MeKcrrmv. .1. \V. A. Marehnnt. and Thoina . Humphries, add-d remini-ceiice, of iheir ra-i experiences of him. Mr, Mackenzie feelin sly responded, and licaiilly thanked all the o'iirer, of ihe department. Inclu.line. those ah-ent a- well as those present, for all ihe kindnesses he had evperien. Ed at their hand-, an,l the efficient and loyal assistance iliev had always rendered to him. The iworeedin;:--- closed with liiree cheers 'leiu'e, »i\en /or Mr. Mackenzie with ;mi.s.icai 'luiiurs.