PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. A. H. Johnstone left for AucKlnnil last evening^ Mr. H. H. Ward, of the Napier Boys' High School, is on a short visit to NevV Plymouth. Dr. C. (i. F. and Mrs. Moriee ur4 spending a few days at the North Egt niont Mountain House. A cable from London reports tlio death of Brigadier-General Walter Long, the eldest son of the Colonial Secretary, killed in action. A. London cable states that his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught has been appointed Colonel-in-Chief of tha Volunteers. Mr. George Waters, 0 f Pike & Waters, has received advice that his brother, in vale John Henry Waters, late of -New Plymouth, was .killfed in action i:i I'ianee on January 13. v jM '; r !? nlm ' t ( ' nw », of Deer Park, r '' ,' aieri, ified there the other day a?e<l eighty-one years. Hp emigrate! t-i Australia when he was twenty years it age, and was associated with the early digging days, both there aud -n new Zealand.

The death occurred last week of a vel -known figure in the Milton din--111 (lic person of Mr. Hugh M'Cro•gor, at the age of 72 years. The deceased gentleman arrived at Port Chalmers m the early 'oo's.

Mr A. C. T i. Fcrrin, formerly of IV Press literary stall' has been appointed P'-ivate secretary to Dr. Valintine, TnTr CC |fl r nn" Pral ,° f Hoß P itals ' «nd Chief Health Oflicer. Mr. Pcrrin, who enlisted some time ago, had the misfortune to meet with an accident whilst in tho n.c.o. r camp ut Trontham, and the effects were such that he was dischar'Al as unfit from the Expeditionary Fores. „;^ r : J , olm *enior, one of tha Canterbury Pilgrms," has Just feed, Jf >' ral ' 9 - We arrived in one of the first four thips, with his wife ana tiiiee sons, one being born on the \wvy ™V., At "' st ' ' n a cave'on (lie hillside at Heathcote Valley, but later moved to a sod hut on the bank of the river. Ten gf deceased's grandsons nave enlisted for active service. The Rev. Frank Hales, who has been filling tho pulpit of the New Plymouth J I'esby l.orian Church for the past five mor.tlts, will conclude his work next Sriidiiv. Mr. Hales Ims accepted an invitation from ihe Hamilton Presbyterian Church to supply their pulpit for three months, and will leave New PlyniMith with his wife and family oil February 7.

A London cable reports the death of Karl C'romer, who was born on February 2G, 18-11, his father being Mr. Hcnrv Barinir, M.P. The late peer commenced his career as a soldier, hut found scope later for Ins administrative and diplomatic talents in Egypt, where he acted as Controller-General in IS7O, and subsequently in India. He was created a baron in 1872, a. viscount in ]BBS, and' an earl in 1001.

Mr. Y\ illiain Kpps, secretary of tlit Royal Prince .Alfred Hospital, Svdueyv is on a visit to Xow Zealand for the purpose of inquiring into hospital management generally, and specially into tl.'o treatment by the Health Department of sick and wounded soldiers, Mr. I'.pps is at present in the Auckland district, and the Minister of Public Health has issued instructions to nil i'.cspitals and convalescent institutions that every facility is to be afforded llio visitor in his inquiries. He has bom specially invited to visit Rotorua, Hmnier, and the Government Sanatorium for Consumptives at Cambridge.

•Sergl. P. H. N. Freeth, of the Seventeenth Reiiifor.'omonts, son of Mr. P C. Freeth, of PalmcrHon, has put up the best score of any member of an Empire Reinforcement during test shooting conducted in England His score wan liifi out of 170, over seven different ranges. In the first test (10 shots in 30 seconds, at 200 yards) he secured the possible. In the five shots deliberate at'the Sam's range ho also got the possible;, and followed this up with a possible at the snap-shooting, hitting five out of IK« figures exposed for four seconds at «' time. In the Highest test (loading nml f'ring fifteen shots in lots of five. Mia loading done from the pouch, in one minute) he got 12 bnlls'-eyes, two intiers, and one outer—a total of 41 out or 4 1 ) points. This test is known as the •mad minute," and is shot from 300 jards. For this performance, Sergeant Freeth received special mention in rou-t-rc orders. [Te has also been kept behind to assist in the training at a school of musketry somewhere in England. Tho record was put up under favorable coik dilions. The vvearhor was beautifully clear, and the little wind there >vas blowing straight up the range. Tin onlj drawback was that the weathur was bitterly cold Sergeant Freeth learned his shooting at the Wellington College, where he was a member of a team which competed for the T. ,rit Roberts trophy in the Empire Schools Competition.