PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15356, 13 August 1915, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr W. Rceco left last night for Wellington. ' The name of Lieut. J. C. Lauder, of the Bth Argyll and Southerlanu Highlanders, appears in the list, of casualties at Home. He is tho son of Harry Lauder, tho well-known Scottish comcdian. The Defence Department has called on Major Corrigan, of Wellington, Major llingland, of Napier, Major McNaught, of Wanganui, Major Osburn Lilly, of the Wairarapa, of the reserve of ollicers, to undertake administrative dutiqs. At Sumner last evening. Licutonant G. S. Lavie and Private Regnault on leave from Trentham preparatory to going to the front, were entertained members of the Sumner-Redcliffs Lnif, of the Citizens' Defence Force, Lifoboat Brigade, and Lifo-saving Society. Captain A. C. Wilson presided over a largo attendance. Lieutenant Lavie was presented with a revolver, a pair of military hair brushes, and a silver-mounted flask, and Private Regnault with a safety razor. Mr Vivian W. Boon and Mr Harold P. Smith, employees of tho Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, clothing factory cutting room, were on Wednesday evening, on leaving to join tho Expeditionary Forces, presented each with a bracelet-watch, money belt, silver-mounted pipe, silver matchbox and knife, by their follow-emuloyees throughout the factory. Mr Bissett, on behalf of the employees, made the presentation. This makes a total of eight from this section of the company who have joined tho Forces.

Mr Herbert C, Seymour, a very old settler in New Zealand, died at Picton lost week. Deceased, who was 80 years of age, arrived in the countrv by the Pudsey Dawson on Christmas Day, 1854, and after a short stav in Wellington he went to Nelson. Ho helped to survey the Picton-Blenheim railway, was at one time timber inspector for John Brogden and Co., the big railway contractors; acted as stationmaster and wharfinger at Picton for some years, and wbb engaged in sheep-farming in the Marlborough district for a considerable period. He was a brother of Mr A. P. Seymour, for some years Superintendent of Marlborough.

Mrs Fuller, of Dunedin, who has lost ono of her six sons at tho front, haa received tho following letter, which speaks for itself: —"Horsley Downs, August 9th, 1915. To Mrs Fullor. Kensington, Dunedin. Dear Madam—l have much pleasure in forwarding a cushion to you which we hope you will accept as a small token of regard and admiration from 'The women of Hawarden.' Tho cushion wsb put up to auction at a concert wc had a short time ago in aid of the Rod Cross Fund, and was bid for by 'ladies only,' and realised £8, and having read in tho paper that you had six sons on active service, wo thought wc should like to show some appreciation and sympathy for ono who has set such a noble example to the women of New Zealand. Hoping you will accept the gift, and bo long spared to use it. and welcome your sons home when this terrible war is over, I am, etc.. Mabel Lance (for the women of Hawarden)."

Private advice has been received in Wellington of the death in Nova Scotia of Mr George F. Smith, who was for seventeen years nssi-atant-secretary of the.Wellington Harbour Board. Born at New Brunswick in 1851. Mr Smith was a «on of Mr Wm. Smith, Deputy Minister of Marine for the Dominion On leaving school ho joined the trainirg ship Britannia, and rose in the Ryal Navy to the rank of lieutenant. Retiring from the Nnvy in 1878 he eaine out to New Zealar.d with a view to farming, and for mx vears was engaged in surveying, fdieep-farming, and wheat-growirg in the Canterbury district. In 1885 he obtained employment aw draughtsman in the Public Works and Marine Departments in Wellington, undertaking special work, ineluding a marine survey of tho Kaipaia harbour and a chart showing the lighthouses of New Zealand. Mr Smith joined the Wellington Harbour Board on June Ist, 1890. as assistant i-rere-tary. and continued as such until 15)07, when he voluntarily retired. Dirire, I'r William Ferguson's absence in Euvooe Mr Smith ncted as leoretary. Subsequently he went to Canada to carry on annjo farming.