PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15218, 4 March 1915, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

■Muss G. if. D. Turner has passed the first section of the 13.A. degree examination ol" the University of New Zealand

The Hev.JJ. B. Hughes and Mrs Hughes, Avho are leaving Ashburton for Canada, were entertained at <a farewell social in the Baptist church on Tuesday evening, and presented with a travelling nig.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Allan W. Duncan, of tho 13th Regiment, and Sergeant Davidson, of the machine-gun section of the .New Zealand Expeditionary Force, now in .Egypt, have ;e----oeiretl commissions in the Imperial Array.

Hon. F. H. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, arrived from Timaru by tho first express last night. -Mr BelJ has been staying for some time at Mount Cook. The Minister will meet a- deputation this morning, and leaves this evening for Wellington.

Mr W- S. Little.jolin, M.A., headran ster of the Scotch College, Melbourne (at one time headmaster of Kelson . College), has consented to be nominated for the .seat on the University Council, vacated By Archbishop Clarke.

Captain H. S. Williams, of the Dorsetshire Regiment, has been promoted to tho rank of maior. He has quite recovered from the wound he received at Mons, and is hack at the front again. Major Williams is a Napier boy.

Dr. Agnes Bennett, of Wellington, having volunteered for service with the French Red Cross Society, and being accepted, will leave for London, on her >.vay to join the staff, about the end. of the month. J>r. Agnes Bennett proposes to bo away a year, and to resume practice.on her return.

Mr C. H. W. Dixon, of Wellington, who joined the Stamp Department at Christchurch in' ISSO.* and rose to the position of Deputy-Commissioner, retired on superannuation at the end of Inst 'month, after having had leave of absence, owing to ill-health, for some months. He was transferred to Wellington eleven years ago. and since then has' been identified with various .sporting and social organisations.

A presentation, in the form .of a large framed photograph of.officers undo;- his ■ charge., was made "in the Christchurch Telegraph Office soi-inl room last evening to Air A. J. C. Talbot, Superintendent. Mr P. D. Mansell, in.making the presentation, stated that the operators were anxious to expressthetr gratefulness to tho Superintendent for the many great improvements he had 'inaugurated since his advent as Superintendent at the Ohristehureh office. In responding, Mr Talbot expressed his gratification on receiving such a gift, Out said he valued the sentiments expressed much more. Spcakinz of the> Public Service Commissioners!, Mr Talbot expressed the opinion that thp Department was extremely fortunate in having such a man as the Chief Commissioner (Mr Donald Robertson) at the head of affairs. After his exDerience both privately and officially, he had no hesitation in statinjr that he looked upon the Chief Commissioner, as one of the "whitest" men he had ever met.

Dr. Haidwick Smith, retiring medical superintendent, to the ' Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, was on .Monday the recipient of a silver inkstand and pen-rest from the staffs'of the Board. The presentation was ma.de by the secretary (Mr J. Coyle). who said that for the past six years over TOO meetings of various committees of the Board had been heid at -which Dr. Hardwiek Smith attended, and in his first year there wore 13<J such meeings. 68 of which were held at night time at which Br. Smith ■was present. At these meetings he never lost an opportunity to endeavour to ameliorate the conditions under which the staff worked. The nursing .staff had been increased by 37 per cent., viz.. from 78 to 102. The salaries per month during six years had been increased, too, from £202 to £397 for last mouth, an increase of 87 per o«nt. The remarks of the secretary were thoroughly endorsed by the bouse steward, Mr £. H. Fox. In replying, "Dr. Smith expressed his best wishes to all the staff, and acknowledged the help and loyalty he had received from every member, particularly mentioning the nursing staff.