PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Corporal W. S- Douglas is in New Plymouth, on leave from Trenthaw Camp.

A iDunedin wire states that the Presbytery has nominated Professor Hewitson as Moderator for the next General Assembly. Mr. D. IFraser, of Uruti, has beon advised that his son, Roy, who left with the Sevenths, is returning with the next draft of invalided soldiers.

Mrs. E. Flay, of Egmont Village, has received word of the loss of her second son, Albert J. Taylor, a fine type of young man, who was highly respected and esteemed.

Constable O'Brien, of Wanganui, (bas been sent to New Plymouth on temporary service, owing to the local force toeing short-staffed on account of sickness and other causes.

In the latest hospital report the name of Corporal G. R. Evans (New Plymouth) is given among the not severe! cases.

The death is reported of Lance-Corpl. P. J. Espiner, son of Mr .and Mrs W* Espiner, formerly of the Hthain district Lance-Corpl. Espiner was killed so} action in France.

A casualty list reports ■ Private T. Gray, of Eltham, among those wounded' in the recent fighting. Private T. Gray is a son of Mr Gray, of Finnerty road. Mr. Charles Corbishley, of Malice, has received a cable that his only son, Charles, 20 years of age, was Killed in action on the western front on Septem-i ber 7.

Cable advice received from Melbourne reported that Sergeant E. A Lamerton (Australian light Horse), son of Mr. R. Lamerton, Gaine Street, New Plymouth, was wounded on September 18, in Palestine.

Word has been received by Miss Sinclair that her brother, Private James Sinclair, late of Huiroa, has been wounded and admitted to the hospital, England, suffering from gunshot wounds in thigh and foot. Private G. Malam, who, previous to enlistment, was a member of the stall} of the Taranaki Herald, and also of the New Plymouth Brigade, is due to arrive home 'by a transport expected to reach New Zealand at an early date, with a draft of invalided soldiers.

Mrs. JB. Lobb, of Swansea Boad, Stratford, received the sad news on Saturn day that her son, Trooper R. R. (Boy) Lobb, died of wounds on September 25. Trooper Lobb enlisted in ; the 24th Reinforcements.

Mr. H. M. Carter, a member of the clerical staff at the New Plymouth railwky station, has passed the medical test for flying, and expects to enter the Ko'himaramara Flying School (Auckland)' in November. Mr. Carter, who is 20 years of age, is a son of Captain R. J. Carter, of the Samoan Garrison. On Thursds# evening last, the members of the Kaponga Hibernian Society; assembled at the residence of Mr. G. Melville, Manaia Boad, to farewell brother W. J. Melville, prior to his departure to the Waikato. Brother Crowley in a very suitable address, presented Brother Melville with a gold-mounted amber cigarette-holder encased in silver, the recipient suitably responding. Singing and card-playing were indulged in till the small hours of the morning, when the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" brought a very pleasant evening to al close. v

An Invercargill message states that at a meeting of the Southland Keabytery on Tuesday, a call from St. Andrew's, Christchureh, to the Rev. E. M. By■burn, of the First Church of Invercargill was sustained and accepted. Speakers on behalf of the congregation and clergy eulogised the Rev. Ryßurn'a ten years' ministry at Invercargill, and referred to the depafting minister's exceptional qualifications in the pulpit, in the church life generally, and as a public man. His departure is greatly regretted, but it is recognised that an important field lay ahead of him in Canterbury. The Patea Press records with regret the death of another very old settler of tlhie Patea district in the person of Mr W. J. Dickson who passed away at Wanganui on Friday last at the age of 68 years. The deceased came to the district some 30 years ago when he assisted his uncle in the construction of the first breakwater at Patea. Sine* then he had lived continuously in the town until last year when, on the deatit of his wife, he went to reside in Wanganui with his brother Mr G. H. Dickson, engineer to the Waitotara County Council The deceased, who was engaged in contracting work for some years with Mr H. Locner, was esteemed throughout th 4 district for his good nature and strict integrity in business matters. Captain J. Macfarlane celebrated his 88th birthday at Dunedin last TuesdayHe may well be described as one of the pioneers of the shipping trade of New Zealand, being with Sir James Mills and tlie late Mr John Darling, one of the founders ' ,of the Otago Shipping Company, which gradually got merged into tlio Union Company as we know it toddy. Captain Macfarlane catae to New Zealand in the earliest 'sixties, being in command of the ship City of Dunedin; he left her at Dunedin, and on ter way up the coast under a new commander she disappeared completely, leaving not a trace behind. For. some time he traded between New Zealand and Australia, and then, with Mr Darling, he went Home, and tho first ship of .the company's was built at Denny's being called the Bruce. The captain 1 - brought-.>(her.,.oiit, and she traded between, Dunedin, Akaroa, and Lytteltoi). Next tiniehe went Home on behalf of the company the Taupo was built, and after trading for some time in New Zealand waters she was Wrecked near Tauranga, but was refloated again, but finally sank when being towed to Auckland. A third time he went Home, and brought out the Kotorua, and with her trade was opened up between- Onehunga and Sydney. After long and strenuous work on behalf of the company he had helped to found, he left the sea to take tip a land job, and became pilot and harbormaster at Dunedin, a position he held for over ten years. About eighteen years ago he retired from active work.