PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. E. Muchmere, of the Ciisbornft branch of the N.Z. Insurance Co-, has received notice of his transfer to New Plymouth. '

The Mnnnia, "Witness understands that Hie Bisop has accepted the Rev. A. T. I!. Page's resignation of the vicariate of Alanaia, to take effect toon after Easter, The Rev. W. Tye, at present of Aahhurst, has been appointed as his successor.

A United Service cable message from London announces t'Vp death of the Rev. Henry Scott Holland, MA., DD-, Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford, and Canon jof Chriatchurch since 1910. He was I author of several ecclesiastical publications.

sergennt Walter Matthews, formerly of ■'■ Inglewood, lias returned from the front He was badly.gassed at Passclienilaele in October, and after treatment irt 'hofcpital was se-\t back to New Zealand. He told a reporter of the Hawera Star that he is feeling much better, but Will be under treatment for some time at the lof|l' llOSpit: I. '

The London Time* of December 31 last, contains a long list of soldiers" who have been mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Hjwig for gallant service on the Western front. These include the names of Private A. H. Rone, nephew of M: -i L. A. Rene, of Hawera, and Corporal A'. V. Eade, brother to Mr. Eade, Hawera. Both soldiers are serving with the (New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Captain C. J. Adams, R.A.M.C. (Pate* and Foxton) has been transferred to the N.Z.M.C. Captain Adam's has done a great deal of special work as a bacteriologist, and at the end of last year was appointed pathologist and bacteriologist at Kipon (states the Post's London correspondent). Previously lie was on the medical staff at No. 20 General Hospital, Etaples. Dr. L. Serpell, son of the Rev. S. ,Serpell, late of Masterton, who was killed at the front recently,"' met his death while going oil' duty. He was just leaving the trenches when he was killed by shrapnel. A sergeant who was close by, at ths time mentions the splendid services that Dr. Serpell had put in under extremely trying circumstances. l •

There was a notable gathering' of Maoris and pakchas, at Tuahiwi last week, on the occasion of a banquet to the newly-elected member for Southern- „

Maori, Mr. J. H. W. Uru The chairman for the occasion was Mr. J. Kelly, and among those present were the Hon, Dr,' Pomarc, wlisj apologised for the absence of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. Hichard Moore, Dr. Thacker, M.P., and Mrs. Thackor, Mr. W- D. Barrett, Mr. Charier Tikao, and Mr. fl. Urn. The banquet was served in true Maori style, and included such delicacies as mutton-birds cooked in Maori fashion.

Miss Kosina Buekinan, the Xew Zealand soprano, continues to make great strides in her profession in the Old Country. Regarding a performance of "Aida," during the Christmas season.'of the Beeeham Opera Company at Manchester, the Guardian says: "Miss man no longer argues, but sings, and if' sheer beauty is divine, sings divinely. To be eloquent and to be simple is in song very much the same thing, or, at least, you cannot be the one without the other. Straight as love is all the Aida needs to be, and though she traps 'both herself and her lover, it is of very love and, of no guile. Tliero is no reserve, no Btav in the outpouring of her song, no crooked emotion, no sliding hatred.. She 'is nutsic-'s queen of tropical loveliness. dusky of hue and dark of fortune,! lint golden at the heart- Miss. Buckmaw lias now the greatness not to mar Aid's singleness of heart" How Captain Murray Urquhart, of T iranaki, gained the Military Cross 'is shown in the London Times of January 15, as follows:—"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when cornminding his company in an attack. In spite of no barrage being available, and of the fact that the enemy's position was exceptionally strong and . heavily wired, he so admirably arranged his plans that he overcame the stubborn opposition which was offered, and captured the position, killing and.capturing numbers of !jie enemy. After this was effected hj? held the position for 24 hours under 11 violent bombardment, displaying 'the same splendid coolness and .courage throughout and greatly inspiring his men by his personal example under vifry trying conditions."

• The death is announced by Pre«s,Aasoeiaiion telegram of the Moat Bev. John Healy, -D.U., LLI)., M.RXA., Archbishop of Tuam. The deceased divine ufas a native of Sligo, where hewas born in 1841. He was educated at Summer Hill College, Athlono, and .Maynooth College. He took first honours, and was classical professor from 18t>7 to IfiTO. After acting as a missionary priest he became of Theology at Maynooth College, and was afterward Prefect of the Duttboyne Establishment, Senator at the Royal University of Ireland and of the new Dublin University, besides holding.several other important positions. : He spent much of his time in antiquarhn researches throughout Ireland, and was the author of several historical publications.

Details have now come to hand of the bravery of Henry James Nicholas, of the Machine Uun Corps, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, for which ievwas awarded the Victoria Cro'-s in January last. Private Nicholas \va3 a Ohrist- ! church recruit, who joined in February, 191 li, His parents live at St. Albans. The official account of his exploits," for which he secured the coveted decoration, shows that he was, one of a Lewis gun section which had orders to form a defensive ilank to the right of the advance, which was subsequently checked 'by machine gun and r'llle fire frooj an enemy strong point. Nicholas, followed by the remainder of his section, at an interval of about 2o yards, rushed forward alone, shot the. officer in charge of the'strong point, and overcame the remainder of the garrison of 18 by means of bombs and bayonet, capturing four wounded prisoners and a machine jffun. Ho captured this strong point practically single-handed, and thereby saved many casualties. Subsequently, [When the advance had reached its limit, Private Nicholas collected ammunition under heavy machine gun and enemy I rifle fire.