PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15774, 15 December 1916, Page 9

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dr. H'. T. J. Thacker. M.P.. and Mrs Thacker returned to Cliristchurch I yesterday from their trip to America. I The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. Min- , ister of Agriculture, returned to Weli lington last night. i Messrs Udo and G. Natori. of Tokio. Japanese Trade Commissioners, ! arrived in* Cliristchurch yesterday i'roiu Wellington. The Hon. James Allen. Acting-Prime Minister, passed through Christchurch vesterdav evening on his way" from bunedin to Wellington. Mr O. Smart Thomson has been appointed to the position of assistantmaster in the Otago Hoys' High School. Mr Thomson is at present teaching in the Wnangarei High School. Mr J. D. Millton. a member of the Canterburv Military Service Board, left

for Wellington last evening to ntteiul the conference <ii members of Military Service Boards to be bold in that city to-day.

Miss <>. Tenipleton. a popular me.m« bcr of tin- Y.W.C".A. llou-;e staff, v]h» is leaving to become ;i probationer nurse, was yesterday at tornoon presented by Mrs liuler. the housekeeper, vith n silver toilet table box, on behalf of t-ho ladies of the staff.

Mr Georgo Powell. late of Napier, and well known as a motor-car o.nthu>.iast. has l>oen killed in England as tho result of n motor accident. About months ago he worked his passive to England to study aviation, and ■whilst there was stationed on Use • oast of Norfolk.

The death occurred at Napier ;>n Monday of Mr John Cresswell. Deceased was well known in Canterbury in connexion with sport, and was sonio years ago handicapper J'or .several racing clubs on the West Coast. Ho was also at. onc..tirae in business in Wanganui. and was known throughout tho Dominion as a stock dealer.

On the occasion of his appointment as relieving oiuccr to tho Canterbury district, Mr D. C. Burns, chicf booking clerk. Christchurcli, was presented bv" the station staff with a hand so mo suit case. Mr T. J. Brownell, stationmaster. made tho preservation, and congratulated the recipient upon his appointment.

Mr W. L. Newnham, resident engineer of the Public "Works Department, Napier, who recently volunteered _ for active .service.; lias been presented with a gold "monkey," being an cxact replica of the one used to drive the first pile of the Westshore-East Coast railway bridge, as a token of tho appreciation of the citizens of Napier. He iTCC? into camp with the 24tli Reinforcements next mouth.

Dr. J. H. Murray-Avnslcy, eldest eon of Mr H. P. Murray-Aynsley. returned to , Christchurcli. yesterday, alter an absence of 20 years, seven of which wero spent at Ekctahuna. in the North Island, and tho remaining 13 at Montrose, Scotland. Dr. Murray-Aynslev has returned to Now Zealand for tho benefit of his health, and purposes making a permanent stay in this country.

The members of the Sumncr-Rcdclifis Unit of tho National Reserve met to sav farewell to Private J. liines. ono of the early members of the unit, who is now leaving- to take up a position as lieutenant in tho Royal Naval Motorboat Patrol. The Mayor (Mr J. B. Laurenson) presided over a large attendance. Complimentary speeches were made and an appropriate toast-list gone through. The chairman, on behalf of the members, presented tho guest of the evening with a suit case, and in doing so wished him good luck and a sale return. Musical items were given by -Messrs J. HlarJcy. Woods, G. F. Alien. Britton, and H. J. Marrincr.

Sergeant N. E. Fitzgerald (N.Z. Rifle Brigade), who has been awarded tho Military Medal for good work in tho Sommo battle, is a son of Mr and Mrs N. Fitzgerald, Allenton, Ashburtoiv. Ho was educated at the AshbUrton Convent School, and was at tho time of enTTstme.nt in the firm of Messrs Fitzgerald Bros. He is a lino type of manhood, and took a keen interest in all kinds of sport. He played in the Canterbury representative football team in 1912, and was also on© of the brothers who won a seven-a-sido tournament at Ashburton. in 1910. Sergeant Fitzgerald was wounded in the neck and cheek on September 30th, and is at present in hospital at Birmingham.

A cablegram from London published recently stated that amongst the New Zealanders receiving the Military Cross was Captain Norman l'rior, of Masterton, who went over a parapet and dressed wounded men under intense fire. This news (states the "Wairarapa Daily Times") was received with feelings of pleasure in Masterton. Masterton soldiers at the front have repeatedly referred to the splendid manner in which Dr. Prior has always carried out his duties. Amongst the sick and wounded Dr. Prior's work has been invaluable, and lie has rot spared hiinself ill order to ease the sufferings of our soldiers. ..The men under his care speak in terms of high praiso of his devotion to duty and the risks which he took in order to attend to wounded soldiers.

Reporting to the Mawkc s Jiay Induration J3oarrt a lew day.s ago. Air Director. stated that Miss M. iC. Sandilands. As-ociute University. Domestic Science Mistress for the (;ihl>orne Centre. liad forwarded her resignation to the Hoard. During the period she had been in cha.rge. Miss Sandilands bad shown herself to be a very careful and conscientious teacher, particularly effective as an instructor in the chemistry of foods. It was agreed to place on record the lioard's appreciation of Miss Sandilands's services.