PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1943, Page 2

PERSONAL

- 4 — The engagement is announced of Lurline Lorna, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs C. Gair, Lower Hutt, to Bryce Cliff, younger son of Mr and Mrs A. H. Humphrey, Greytown. Among a party, of sick, wounded and other personnel of the Second N.Z.E.F. who recently returned to New Zealand were Private J. H. A. Drysdale, Nireaha, and Private J. I. Sigvertsen, Rongok’okako, Eketahuna. The death occurred in Wellington on Saturday last of Mrs Mara Mitchell Corkill, widow of Mr Thomas Eustace Corkill, formerly inspector of the Bank of New Zealand . Mrs Corkill was born in Manchester, England, in 1866, and came to New Zealand 55 years ago.

The election of five members to the national executive of the N.Z. Labour Party resulted in one change, Mr McKeen, M.P., replacing Mr Semple, who finished sixth in the voting. Those elected were Messrs R. Eddy, J. O. Johnson, Brindle, M.L.C., P. Dowse and McKeen, M.P.

The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, has received advice that the King has approved the following awards foi good service: —D.S.C.: Temp. Sub-Lieutenant A. B. Ryan. R.N.Z.N.V.R. (Next-of-kin, father, Mr Robert Ryan, 51 Windsor Street, Invercargill.) Mentioned in Dispatches, Action in North Africa: SubLieutenant R. C. Smith, R.N.Z.N.V.R. (Next-of-kin, father, Mr Horace Smith, 327 Karaka Bay, Wellington.) The death ocurred on Saturday of Mr Josiah Batchelar, farmer, Linton. Mr Batchelar, who was 72 years of age, had a lengthy list of public services to his credit, including the presidency of the Manawatu A. and P. Association, chairmanship of the Kairanga County Council, and membership of the Palmerston North Hospital Board, ManawatuOroua Power Board, Palmerston North River Board, and other organisations. The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, Prime Minister, who is indisposed with a cold, remained at his home at Northland yesterday, but it is expected that he will be able to resume his official duties at Parliament House today. He was to have been one of the speakers at a gathering in Wellington last night to celebrate Poland’s National Day, his place being taken by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, Hon. D. G. Sullivan.

The death occurred in Wellington recently of Mr Chris. Crane, who was born in Yorkshire 67 years ago, and came to New Zealand with his parents at an early age. He later carried on business as a hairdresser in Wanganui, Opunake, Hawera, and for the past 15 years in Wellington. He leaves a widow, one son, Mr N. Crane, Lower Hutt, and three daughters, Mrs A. Barns, Lowei' Hutt, Mrs A. Tillott, Pahiatua, and Mrs N. Cole, Ngaio.