PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL.

_ Mr. Sherwood Butt, of Haehanga, Urufci, has enlisted, has passed the medical board of examiners, and expects to go into camp with the 34th Reinforcements.

Cable advice was received yesterday by Mrs. Bridgeman, of Westown, stating that her son, Private D. I.anglcy, of the 10th Reinforcements, was dangerously ill on June 4.

News has been received, savs a Wellington press telegram, of the" death on the western front of Captain S. A. Atkinson, fourth son of the late Sir Harry Atkinson, aged 42, He was wounde*. when rushing out to rescue a brother officer.

Mr. Strack, headmaster of the Hawera District High School, lias just received a cable from his youngest, son, Sergeant K. J. Rtraek, stating that he had been promoted to a lieutenancy. Mr. Strack has three sons at the front, and a fourth will be going shortly. At the early closing movement meeting at Stratford on Tuesday, the Mayor congratulated the member for Eginont on the honors won by his son, Lieut. Harold Wilkinson, at the front. The Rev. J. Dawson also touched on the matter during the course of his address. Mr. Wilkinson expressed his thanks for the kind remarks tendered him.

Miss Brown, who has for twenty years been matron at the New Plymouth hospital, and who severs her connection with that institution about the end of this month, f,o take up a similar position at the Cambridge Sanatorium) was the guest of (i most enjoyable afternoon given by Mrs. A. C. Collins yesterday. Among the contingent that recently arrived back in Auckland from active service are the following Taranaki men: Privates A, Bowie (New Plymouth), F. A. Coleman (Hawera), D. .T. Cremmens (Cardiff), Sergeant 11. Gorrie (Kaponga), Corporal W. P. Henry (Inglewood), Tiince-Corporal G. H, llowcll (Pa - tea), Privates 3. Kindberg (New Plymouth), E. Loveridga (Omnia), W. McGarvie (Hawera), Sergeant X. H. Mitchell (Paiea), Private.! J. W. Thomas (Stratford), T. Ward (New Plymouth). A cable message lias been received in Nelson stating that Flight-Commander Hugh Hamilton is a prisoner in Germany and is well. A letter received a few days ago from Dr. Alan Hamilton, hia brother, stated that Flight-Commander Hamilton, with three others, went out on April 0, but none of the four returned to the British lines. When last seen the four were fighting six German machines. Later on the same day there was a great fight between British and German airmen. Twenty-eight of the British pilots failed to get back to their aerodromes, but no fewer tlian forty-six German machines were brought down.

The death occurred in Christchurcli on Friday last of ex-Detective Neill, at the age oi 70. Tho deceased was transferred to Wellington from Christchureh in 1883, ar.d remained there for a number of years. Owing to ill-health he retired on pension and went back to Christchurcli to live, In his. capacity as detective, the late Mr. Ncill was connected with some sensational cases, notably "The Severed Hand Mystery," of about 1890, and the case in which Detective ICirby, who had turned blackmailer and was a fugitive from the lav,', unsuccessfully attempted to escape the vigilance of his former colleagues in the detective force by embarking upon a ship in a packing case. Kirby was arrested on arrival in Australia and brought back to New Zealand, where he was sentenced ito a term of imprisonment. In the first-mentioned case the late Mr. Neilj, who was acting in cooperation with Chief-Detective O'Connor, was instrumental in exposing the fraud and bringing the oiTender to book. Deceased leaves a widow and children.