PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. W. T. Collier, postmaster at Waitara, has received notice of transfer to Manaia.

Captain R. H. Balsom, of Mahgorei, has received advice that his son, Private C. F. Balsom, has been transferred to a convalescent depot in France. Word has been received that Rifleman .Tames Sipcnee, of Carrington Rood, has been admitted to hospital in France, as the result of sever gunshot wound in the right ankle.

The Rev. R. J. Liddell, Methodist minister of Timaru, is spending his annual holiday in New Plymouth. For some years Mr. Liddell was stationed here in connection with the Whiteley circuit.

Mrs. Claude Weston, cabling from London, states that Lieut.-Colonel Weston who "wa9 wounded in two places in the October 4th big advance, is at present at Walton and that his condition shows satisfactory improvemeent.

At a recent examination held at the Duntroon Military College, Australia, Staff-Cadet A. M. Sutherland was successful in gaining first place in the riding, receiving the possible 80 marksr StaffCadet 2ft W. Leech came second with 78 marks. Both of these boys attended the New Plymouth High School. Lieutenant H. C. Davies, of the Royal Engineers, who is serving in France, has been promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Davies is the son of Major-Gen-eral R. H. Davies, C.8., who iB commanding a large training centre at Cannock Chase.

■Private S. iPjaskell, who is well-known in New Plymouth, having been formerly engaged at the Criterion and White Hart Hotels, was given a welcome on Friday night at the residence of Mrs. E. Martin, South road. Private Paskcll left with the 24th Reinforcements, and, while in training in camp in England, had the misfortune to seriously injure a leg. The Rev, W. A. Sinclair, president of the Methodist • Conference, leaves for Auckland by the Rarawa to-morrow evening, and there will meet the committee of advice with reference to the appointment of additional chaplains. From Aukcland Mr. Sinclair will go on to Whakatane, to open a new church, and then to Opotiki. He expects to return to New Plymouth about the end of next week.

Mr. Bower, the new Premier of Victoria, is a newspaper proprietor of Wangaratta, and has represented that electorate in Parliament for 23 years. He was returned unopposed at the recent election. In 1908 he was appointed the chairman of the country party of 26 members, and in the same year became Minister for Education in the reconstructed Hent Ministry, which held office from October 31, 190S, to January 8, 1909. Towards the end of last year he was appointed leadtf of that section of Liberals which stood for economy. Mr. J. Little, of Sentry Hill, has received a cable to the effect that his son, Second-Lieutenant Norman Little, M.C., who was wounded recently, is making favorable progress. Lieutenant Littlo was awarded the Military Cross for the following acts: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading his platoon. Though he had a very short time in which to make his arrangements, his coolness and quick grasp of the situation enabled him to carry out his allotted task with efficiency and complete success. He maintained excellent control over his men, and set them a very fine example of courage and leadership. He personally killed several of the enemy, and obtained identifications."