PERSONAL ITEMS

A London correspondent states that Nurse Mabel Atkinson, of Christchurch (formerly of Nelson) has returned to England after solving for three and a half years in different hospitals in Serbia. &he left for Serbia in 1915 with Lady Wimborne’s party, and was a member of the staff of Lady Paget s hospital when it was captured by the Bulgarians. For the past two years ■she had bee.ii at the Serbian Relief Fund Hospital at Salonika. xMisa Atkinson * now at the school for Serbian children at Fa.vcMeh.ain, Kent. Palmerston North papers announce the approaching retirement of Mr J- D. Barnicoat, manager of the Union Bank of Australia., after a peribd of 'neiiriv veara ’service with that” institution!. Mr Bainicont, who will retire on s«p«iannaution in June next, joined the banV: in September, 1875, in Nelson. Whei he leaves the bank’s service m June, hj will in all probability take up ha ■ isidfeco in Wellington. Mr Thomas Byrnes. of Takaka, who i m inmate of a private hospital here a present, i« reported to be progressing as well as can be expected. ~

■lira F. H. Edmondson, Central TakaIt a- has received a. telegram from th* Defence Minister stating that a court of inquiry now declared 63124 H. V. Ddmcnclson! died zz prisoner of _ svar, cause, date and place of death being unknown. The deceased *z.z vGlkno.vrn; and popular, and wa- a prominent footballer Prior to enlistment with the. Thiyty- first,- Reinforcement,* _hc- followed the occupation of a blacksmith it the Golden Ray forge. Ik is survived by his mother, two sisters, ana ;ur brothers.

The hoisting of the flag at the Mail oȣce to-day led to a number of inquiries as to the reason, which was the return of two members of The Mail staff from the front. Bombardier C. S. Spear, of thei literary staff, came out by the Northumberland, and reached Nelson to-day, while Gunner C. N. Ricketts, of the mechanical staff, returned by an earlier transport, and has just resumed work. Both have been heartily welcomed by their fellowworkers. Bombadier Spear will _ very shortly be in literary harness again.

Lieutenant Bartlett, of Takaka, who returned to New Zealand by the Northumberland, developed enteric fever, and had to remain in Wellington. His father and brother were sent for and left for Wellington by last night’s steamer.

Mr, G'. H. Parmenter has received cable advice that his son;, Corporal H. E. Parmenter, M.M., will arrive at Wellington on or about the 27th May. He left by the 9t.h RoinforreTnents, bein« attached to the .Engineers’ Signalling Company, and has had the best of health during the time he has been away.