PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1919, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr Roy F. Baird lias been appointed Deputy-Registrar of Deeds at New Plymouth. A Rotorua telegram states Mr Charles St, George Hickson, late Commissioner of Stamps, died there on Friday night, aged 7a. Sir William Fraser announces definitely that he is retiring from polities at the end of the present Parliamentary session and will not be a candidate at the general election (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent). Mr Arthur Morton was, on Saturday, re-elected chairman of diflectors of the Inglewood Co-operative Bacon Co. for the '2lst year in succession. Mr Morton, who took a prominent part in the formation of the company, was its first and only chairman. Messrs S. G. Smith and W. T. Jennings, M.'sP., arrived in New Plymouth by the mail train on Saturday evening. Mr Smith returns to Wellington today, but Mr Jennings will visit Urenui, and possibly other parts of his electorate, before returning. Major 15. C. Brewster, N.Z.M.C., of New Plymouth, arrived in England in the middle of July, after serving with the Mounted Brigade in Palestine, most of the time as R.M.O. with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He arrived in London in time to see the peace procession, and he received the M.C. from the King at Buckingham Palace on August 2. At present Major Brewster is doing post-graduate work at various London hospitals. The retirement of Mr C. A. Wilkinson from politics was Deferred to nt the F.ltii.im County Council's meeting $n Saturday. Mr Belcher, after referring to t : e ;i ■ ■ -tn .Mr Wilkinson had given him while in Wellington, said he did not think they would be able to get a man of equal ability. He spared no pains and lie always seemed to "get there." Cr. McMillan said that a man of Mr. Wilkinson's capacity would be very difficult to replace. Two passengers are travelling with the liner Karamea, which berthed at N T ew Plymouth on Saturday morning. One is Mr Vernon Irving, general manager for New Zealand of the Yorkshire Insurance Company, who previously resided in Yorkshire, from which place the master of the vessel (Captain C. M. Andrews) also hails. The other is Mr T. 1,. M'Lenn. who has made the voyage from London as the commencement of a health tour, a:id after spending (some time in New Zealand, is going on to China, Japan and the United States. He is well-known in Scottish circles in the Old Countvv, being vice-president of the Gaelic Society of London, honorary secretary of the Tnvorness-shire Association, and a member of the council of the Federated Scottish Association of London. Mr M'Lean has been commissioned In- a number of Scottish farmers with capital to ascertain whether New Zealand is a suitable land to emigrate to. Colonni ,1. W. TThIcV.I. C.M.0., C.-B.K. (a brother of Mr D. Hutchen, of New Plymouth), Is arriving back in New Zealand bv the Tiemuera on October 28. Prior to leaving New Zealand with the Main Bodv Colonel Tlntehen was a clerk in • the United Insurance Company's office in Wellington., In Egypt his aptitude for matters financial secured for him a responsible position, and later, i when the N.Z.K.F. was transferred to France, Colonel. Hutchen was attached to the Headquarters Staff in London as chief paymaster. In Egypt he was married. He will take up a Staff appointment in New Zealand. Among New Zealanders returning on tho troopship Bcmuera ■ is Lieutenant John Gilroy Grant, V.C., of 1-lawera, Lieutenant Grant received his distinction while serving, as a sergeant, near the village of Bancourt, on September Ist., 1918, when he commanded a platoon forming part of the leading waves of a battalion attacking the high ground to the east of Bancourt. On reaching the crest it was discovered that a line of five enemy machine-guns were holding up the advance. The company, however, advanced under point-blank-tire, and, when twenty yards from the posts, Sergeant, Grant rushed forward at the head of his platoon and entered the centre post, demoralising its garrison, and enabling the position tqj bo ,; mopped up." Tn the same manner the remainder of the posts were occupied. In the citation accompanying the award of his V.C. Sergeant Grant is stated .to have displayed the greatest coolness and determination, and valor of the highest order, setting a fine example to all ranks.