PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., of Napier, who lias been on a visit to Now Plymouth, leaves for Wellington by the c ail train this morning.

Mr. W. C. Weston, who underwent an operation in a private hospital in N«w .Plymouth on Sunday, is progressing satisfactorily.

The borough engineer (Mr. E. 0. Clay, torn is still confined to his home by ill i.fss. but he hopes to resume his duties in the course of a day or two.

Mr. E. Griffiths is an inmate of a private hospital in New Plymouth, where he underwent a serious operation yesterday. He is making satisfactory progress. • • •

_ Colonel J. E. Hume left Auckland on Friday evening to take Hp his new position as officer commanding the Wellington Military District, with headquarters at Palmerston North.

> Hon. W. Carncross, M.L.C., who has been appointed one of the New Zealand representatives for the British Parliamentarian Conference, left Eltham yesterday en route to London. The Rev. M. Mullineaux, who worked his passage from 'Frisco in order to join the forces, has passed an examination and been accepted for the Ambulance Corps, there being no vacancy among the chaplains.—Press Association.

The Oamaru Mail reports that, during Mr. E. P. Lee's absence from New Zealand, Mr. J. Anstey. member for Waitaki, will attend to the requirements of the,.northern portion of the Oamaru electorate, and Mr. C. E. Statham, member for Dunedin Central, will look after the southern portion.

News has been, received of the death, at Bor?lla, Colombo, early last month, of Colonel J. Henry Banks, who was in command of the Auokland Military District for about five years prior to his departure for South 'Africa in 190 L Captain G. B. Banks, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, is a son of the deceased officer. Born in 1843, the latter received his first commission in 1807, and was eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the Dragoon Guards. Although he had retired for ten years, he rejoined in 1901, and served in the. South African War. He finally retired on full pay in 1902, after 35 years' service. Tlic late Colonel Banks wore the medal and bronze star of the fourth-class Medjidie, in token of his services in the Egyptian Expedition of 1882. In South Africa he was in command 'of the Sixth New Zealand Contingent from March to July, 1901. He was awarded the Queen's Medal, with three clasps, after serving in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony.

Comiiiissicmei* J. Ciitlftn, of the Police, Will retire On superannuation at the end of the present year, when he will have completed over forty years in the Gov eminent service. He is a native of Ireland, and was for about seven years a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary, stationed at Dublin and elsewhere, before leaving for New Zealand. In 187(1 hn arrived in Wellington from the Old Country, and at once joined the old New Zealand Armed Constabulary, and after serving some seven months, was transferred to the police. By stern attention to duty and native ability, he worked up through the grades until 1897, when he was appointed Inspector at Orcyniotith (in those days there were nb superintendents), He did not remain there long, and after relieving for a few months at Christchurch he was appointed Inspector of the Auckland district, a position he held until he was appointed Commisisoner in 1012. The name of Commissioner Cullen's successor is not yet known, but it is suggestedthat the next Commlsß-oner may be Superintendent O'Donovan, now In charge of the Wellington district.