PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Lance-Corpol-al A. E. List and Private Rwing, members of the :ir>th Reinforcements, left New Plymouth by mail train yesterday morning, being up on final leave.

Recent visitors to the North Egmont Mountain Hostel include Mr. and Mrs. W. B. White (Wellington), H. Selwyn Dawe (Lower Hutt), Miss Wood (Wanganu?) and Miss Molloumby (Palmcrston North).

Mr. H. S. Renwiek, of Pungarehu, who lias been ailing for some time, is now under medical treatment in New Plymouth, and is making satisfactory progress. The Kev, .1. W. Burton, a former minister of Whitelcy Church, New Plymouth, will visit New Zealand probably during June and July as a foreign missionary deputation. During the course of his work he is expected to visit New Plymouth some time in June, when ho will occupy his old pulpit.

At the last senior national scholarship examination, one of the ix, at ford School boys, Ronald Clare, missed the bursary by just one mark in 1200. He has now received word from the Director of Education that as a result of the recount of his murks, a scholarship has been awarded him.

Mural tablets to the memory of Jjieut. L . Alouli and Corporal A. j. Gilmoui% both of whom have fallen in the war, and a Roll of Honour of about BO n&meß, were unveiled at the Presbyterian Church Manaia, last week. There was a very large attendance not only of members of the Church but of the general community.

Mr Cross the father of Mr A. Cross, of Morrinsville, is within five month* of reaching the century,' and has the dis. tinction of being the oldest Crimean veteran alive, having served through, that great campaign .is a trooper in the renowned Scots Greys. He won the V.C. during the war, and has for over 60 years dralvn pension of £lO attached to it. He is in full possession of all his mental faculties, and takes a keen interest in the present great war. The Hon. Colonel Baillie, M.L.C., cele. brated his ninety-first birthday Friday last. Owing to a 1-ecent family bereavement- the birthday- was kept very quietly, only a few old friends visiting him, but many congratulatory telegrams were received during the day, one being from the Bishop of Nelson conveying greetings from that diocese. Colonel and Mrs Baillie are on a visit to Upper Hutt, but are returning to Wellington shortly.

Lance-Corporal H. Fake, of t'lie New eZaland Engineers, who lias been awarded the Military Medal, is 35 years of age, and wa.s educated at the Newtown School. At the age of fifteen lie went to Palmerston North, residing there for eight years, learning the trade of a bricklayer and builder. He 'then went to Wanganui for two years, afterwards going to Auckland, which city he left with the 9th Reinforcements as a'sapper. He went through the fighting at Armentieres, the battles of the Somme, Messines, and Passchendaele, being wounded at the Somme.

Gunner "Paddy" Murphy, who fell in action in France on the . 4tli of this month, was, says the Riverlea correspondent of the .Star, one of the most promising athletes of Taranaki, when nearly three years ago he answered the call. As a wrestler he had few equals, and wa« also a promising boxer and a runner of considerable speed. It was in football, however, that I came mostly into contact with him, and had lie lived I am quite sure he would have won the All Black jersey before his career had ended. He commenced his football as a second junior of the Raponga club, and quickly rose to the seniors, and before lie left had already gained a place in the Taranaki B representative team. He was a keen and hard player, but always a good sport.. Personally lie was a light-hearted and good comrade, and v.as liked by all who knew him. and it came as a great shock to his many friends to hear of his death.