PERSONAL.

Major-General Sir .A. W, Robin, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, Surgecn-General Henderson, Director of Medical Services, and Major Beauchamp Platts are at present in the Nelson district. They visited Takaka yesterday, arid will remain in Nelson until Mondnv.

Mrs Bartlett, of Ngatimoti, has received word that her son, Driver Harry Ham, who left with the Eleventh Reinforcements, is returning to New Zealand at the beginning of March.

Mr M. J. (Joe) Rowling, son of Mr W. Rowling, sen., Umukuri, has returned after an absence from the Dominion of six years. Mr Rowling, who was formerly in the employ of Messrs York and Sons, Motueka, left New Zealand in 1912 for Australia, anH at the outbreak of war joined the Commonwealth forces, proceeding on active service with, the Slain Body. Mr Rowling (pays the "Times") returned to Australia' in November last,'"and, with the exception! of a period in hospital with enteric fever, had been continuously on active service.

Advice has been received in Auckland of the death of Mr. Harold Desmond Gold-Smith, from pneumonia, at Edinburgh. Mr Gold-Smith left New Zealand on October 2nd last, being attached to the artillery branch of the 43rd Reinforcements as gunner. Prior to his departure to camp he was for many years on the staff of' the New Zealand Insurance Company. He was 'born at Christchurch thirty years ago, and was a son of Mr. E. 'Gold-Smith, formerly Commissioner of Crown Land at Auckland., The late Mr. Gold-Smith took great interest iii tennis and was recognised as one of the best players of the game throughout Auckland. He .'eaves a widow and one daughter.