PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15561, 10 April 1916, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

."Mr Edward Anderson, president of the Auckland Chamber ot Commerce, ariivcd in Christehureh on Saturday. Mr Ashmead Rartlett is a passenger by the Riverina, which is due at "Wellington thi. s morning from Sydney. Mr A. J. S. Thomson, manager of the Bank ot New Zealand at Woodville. formerly of (Jtaki. has been transferred t<> New Plymouth as accountant. Miss L. E. King, of Richmond, lato as-istaut-inistress of the Willowby School, was, on the eve of her leaving the district, presented with an afternoon tea service and oak tray. Colonel Chaffey, Colonel G. J. Smith, and .Major i''innis went North on Saturday night, en loute to Nel.-on. where they are to inspect, the Territorial Camp at Tapawera. Dr. Roland Aickin has left Auckland to join a Home-joing steamer a.-, .surgeon. On arrival in London, Dr. Aickin it ill offer his services to the Itnperial authorities. .Mr C. •!. Kent-.Johr.ston has been appointed town clerk of the Otahuhu borough out- of about, ■'>') ap)i!icants. Mr Keut-.fohn.ston is at present town cle;of Fox ton, and was formerly town clerk of I'Vatherston. Mr E. G. Applegarth, oi tile Auckland office of the Lands and Survey Department. will leave for England shortly. with the intention of placing himself at the disposal of the War Office. A London message says that the Hon. I . Mackenzie attended the memorial service to Sir .John Gorst at St. Margaret's, and -sent a wreath, to be placed on the coHin at the funeral, on behalf of the Government. A Ilokitikn message records the death ot Mr Yxilliam Ford, aged-13. He was captain of the Ross Fire I!rigade. lie was presented with a Gold Scar for 23 years' service at the last Association Conference. Captain "Hob" Stewart, formerly of the I'nion Conmnny'.s service, and Veil known in the Wellington-Pictoii-Nelson running a_ few years ago. is now mate of the A.U.S.X. Company's Fijian intcrinsular steamer Antra. Mrs .Ann Ratt, a pioneer of X'elson province, died last week at the age of S'o years. She arrived at Nelson in the Olympus in 1842. She leaves four daughters _ and six sons, 4-1- grandrhddren. 53 great-rirandchildren. and one great-great-grandchild.

The Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Defence, passed through Christchtirch on his way North on Saturday night. Two other Ministers, the lions. J. A. Hanan and W. D. S. Mac Donald, also left by the ferry-boat to Wellington, after spending a few days in Christchurch.

,Mr Geo. Stephenson, who is well known in connexion with various theatrical enterprises lie has piloted through the Dominion, has become a. member of the managerial staff of Fuller's Vaudeville Circuit, and will shortly take charge of tho firm's theatre iu Auckland, the Opera House.

Major C. R. E. Mackesy, of the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment, who left tho Dominion with the Main Expeditionary Force, was wounded at Gallipoli, and came back to New Zealand on the Willochra in October last. He has now recovered and -is returning to the front with the 12th Reinforcements.

Lieutenant E. V. G. Day, who lias been in charge of the Ashburton Defence Area Office for the past twelve months, loft Ashburton on Saturday to proceed to England to join a regiment there. The area office will be in ehargo of Lieutenant d'A. S. L. Gmt. Lieutenant Grnt was a member of tho Second Reinforcements, and saw three months' active service on Galliuoli.

At Saturday's meeting of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, it was decided to :>lace on record its high appreciation of the spirit of true patriotism exhibited by the late Trooper John .Kirkness in giving his life for his country, and to convey to his relatives an assurance of sincere sympathy with them in their loss.

The death took place at Auckland recently of Mr Thomas Crook, who arrived at th© Northern city as far back as 1875. The deceased gentleman was 84 years of age, and resided for many years in Christchurch. At one time he visited the various Maori schools at the Government's request, giving lantern lectures. He resided with his son at Mount Eden, and leaves five sons and five daughters, besides some 75 grandchildren and great-grand children.

At a meeting of the Taranaki Presbytery, the clerk laid on tho table a call from the Presbytery, addressed to tho Rev. W. H. Howes, of Manaia. The call, which was hearty and unanimous, was supported by the Rev. J. Shore, on behalf of the Christchurch Presbytery. Mr Bridge appeared as Commissioner to represent the interests of Manaia. Mr Howes intimates that the unanimity of the call, and the education facilities that Rangiora afforded, and other reasons, moved him to consider it favourably, and on the call being placed in his hands he accepted it.

Capt. T. McCristell, quartermaster at Trentham Camp, has been appointed to succeed Major James O'buliivan as Director of Stores at Buckle street, Wellington. Capt. McCristell served in the Tirah Valley (North-west India) campaign.-organised by Sir Win. I/ockhart in 1897, against the Afridis. It was in this campaign that the famous 6torming of the heights of Darghai took place, in the South African war Capt. McCristell served in the Transvaal and Orange' River Colony operations between November, 1900, and May, 1901. He haa tho Tirah Medal with two clasps, and the Queen's South African medal with two clasps. In Ivow Zealand he was adjutant of the 17th (Ruahine) Regiment, but has become more widely known as the energetic and resourceful quartermaster at Trentham.

Prior to Mr C. F. Potter's departure to Cliristchurch as chief dork to the Superintendent of Telegraphs, the staff of the Oaraaru Post and i'elegrapli Office met to express their regret at nis departure and to testify to tno cordial relations that had ahvav s existed between Mr Potter and the staff. Mr V. Hill, Chief Postmaster, in asking Mr Potter's acceptance of a ease of pipes, referred to tne recipient's undoubted administrative ability in dealing with his special duties, and said that 110 doubt that was why he was leaving Oamaru. He also asked Mr Potter to accept on behalf of Mrs Potter a handsome handbag. Mrs Potter had, while in Oamaru, devoted a great deal of attention to the welfare of departing soldiers, and it was thought fitting to hand her some memento of her stay there.

Mr Archibald Allan Thomson, senior member of the Wellington firm of Gannaway and Co., master stevedores, who died on Friday from shock following an accidental 1 all into Wellington harbour, was born in Foxton in 1d69, and was educated at Nelson College. He tlioso a seafaring life, and made rapid progress in the service of the ShawSavill and Albion Co. He held the position of fourth, and third officer of the Pakeha, and was fourth officer of the Tainui, under the iato Captain E. J. Evans, for some time marine superintendent of the company at Wellington. He was also in the Aotea, under the late Captain William Scotland, -whose daughter he subsequently married. About fifteen years ago he. joined tho firm of Gannawaj' and Co., in Wellington, and became the senior partner noon the death of Mr John Gannaway. The late Mr Thomson was twice married, and leaves a daughter l>y his first marriage. He is survived by his second wife, formerly Miss Warrington.