PERSONAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3184, 8 May 1909, Page 5

PERSONAL.

New Plymouth papers report that Mr H. J. H. Okey, M.F., is confined to his bed with an attack of rheumatic fever. Commissioner David Rees has been appointed Salvation Army Commissioner of Australasia, in succession to Commissioner McKie. Mr J. M. Beechey, who will take up the headmastership of the Clareinlle School, has held a similar position at the Dalefield School for over 22 years. Very Rev. Dean McKenna, who has been on a health recruiting trip to the Auckland district during the last few weeks will return to Masterton this afternoon. , Rev. Hodge, of the Congregational Church, Masterton, will leave this morning for Wellington, where he is to conduat the anniversary services at Courlnay Place. Rev. A. McDonald Aspland, of Wellington, will conduct the services at the Congregational Church, Masterton. Mother Marie St. Benedict, whose death occurred at the Institution of Notre Dame des Missions, at Ashburton on Saturday, was one of the first band of sisters who arrived in Canterbury 45 years ago to open a convent at Christchurch. Captain R. Saxon Matthews, who served with several of the New Zealand mounted rifles' corps during the South African war, and has only recently returned to New Zealand after several years' absence, is gazetted captain in the New Zealand militia.

Surgeon-General Skerman. senior medical officer of the New Zealand Forces has resigned. He is the only volunteer officer of the rank in the Dominion. Bnrn in England in 1855, Dr. Skerman was appointed surgeon to the Marton Royal Rifles (volunteers) in 1879, captain from 1881 to 1893, becoming surgeon-captain in the New Zealand Medical' Corps in the latter year. He was proriioted surgeon-major three years later. He was staff medical officer to the Sixth New Zealand Mounted Rifles, and saw service in South Africa, for which he holds the Queen's medal. He was afterwards appointed P.M.0., Wellington district, and promoted surgeon-general ;in 1903. He practises his profession in Marton. Mr Marmaduke Webster, whose death was announced in Sydney recently, was a colonist "of 56 years' standing, and one of the fast thinning army of digger*, who made goldeir history in the''fifties." His lite was (says the "Auckland Star')' an adventurous one". At various times he held;or was interested in many rich claims, and. made and lost several fortunes. Eight years were spent on the New Zealand fields, and while there he took a hand, under Von Tempsky. against the Maoris. Mr Webster's last gold-hunting venture was the disappointing Mount Brown rush. This ended disastrously. He and a companion narrowly escaped death from thirst, being rescued in the last extremity.