PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16209, 11 May 1918, Page 9

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Itev. Father Seymour, S.M., has gone north for a short rest, and for the benefit of his health, which has not. been satisfactory* of late.

Mr H. M. Didsbury, who has been in charge of the Napier branch of tho New Zealand Insurance Company, has been advised that he has been promoted to the managership of tho Dunedin branch.

Tho Hon. Gilbert Carson, M.L.C., of Wanganui, though still confined to his room, is making slow but steady progress towards convalescence. It will, however, bo some time before he is ablo to resumo his place in the community.

Tiie Hon. SeizaburoShimizu, Japanese Consul-General tor Australasia and the South Sea Islands, on Thursday was shown over tho Kaiapoi Woollen Mills, and yesterday the Islington Freezing Works. He ieaves for Dunedin this morning.

Mr Nelson Wood, the well-known Australian artist, who has been visiting the Southern Lakes, Queenstown, Paradise, Dart Valley. Mount Earnslaw, and tho Mount Cook regions, has returned to Wellington. During the five weeks ho spent in the scuth ho made many water-colour sketches of the lake and mountain scenery.

Tho members of tho Sumner Bowling Club and other prominent residents met at the bowling pavilion to bid farewell to Messrs \V. S. Heyes and T. Coffey, who ;)ie shortly leaving for camp. Dr. Gosset presided over a largo attendance. Tho function took tho form of a smoke social, a lengthy toast list was gone through, while numerous entertaining items were given. The chairman, on behalf of the bowlers, presented Mr W. S. lleycs with a wristlet watch, and Mr Co'tfey with a case of pipes, and in doing so referred to tho loss the club would suffer by their departure.

Thoro has just retired from the employ of Messrs Stevenson and Cook (tho well-known engineering firm at Port Chalmers) Mr Samuol Thomson, leading blacksmith, and ono whoso term of service is ratner an exceptional one. Mr Thomson commenced his career in 1864 as an apprentice in -what was then hut a small smithy and shoeing forge, carried on by the lato Mr John Morgan and MiAngus McGregor, the original founders of the present works, and although the proprietary has changed, from time to time, Mr Thomson has had an unbroken continuity of service extending over a period of more than half a century.

According to a cable message from New York, the "World's" Washington correspondent states that Lance-Cor-poral Skeyhill has regained his sight after a slight operation on the vertebrae of the neck. Lance-Corporal Skeyhill, the Australian soldier-poet, joined the Victorian Forces on the outbreak of the war, and was wounded on Gallipoli, his injuries making him completely blind. On his return to Australia l-o threw himself very heartily into the recruiting campaign, and secured many recruits for the reinforcements. He subsequently went to America on a lecturing tour.

Referring with sincere regret to the death of Mr Duncan Rutherford, a member of tho executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund, the annual report of the fund states: —Mr Rutherford, m addition to acting as a member of tho Financo and Applications Committees, was the fund's representative for the Amuri district on the executive, and also took a keen interest in tho welfare of the sick and wounded men at the Queen Mary IJpspital, Hanpjer. It was in a great measure due to the late Mr Ruthorford's untiring energy that sucti a large sum of money was raised on behalf of this fund during the Queen Carnival campaign hold in tho earlier part of 1916.

Captain W. J. King, who has won the Military Cross, is a son of Mr Walter King, licensee of tfafi Commercial Hotel, Auckland. Captain King, who was aii Auckland representative Rugby footballer, and a member of the College Rifles Club, left New as a sec-ond-lieutenant with tho 15th Reinforcements in 1910, and was promoted captain abdut six months ago. He passed thrpugh practically all the New Zealand engagements in France, and up to tho prespnt has suffered no harm. Captain King is an old boy of Nplsfm Collego, and was head boy there fflr two years. Jle fyis passed his examinations as a barrister and solicitor. Captain King has beep singularly during his participation in the fighting in prance, paying pspappd without a scratch' on opcasiopg \yhen pieces of shell passed thrqiigj} his helmet and his valisp.

A privato eablo message received in Wellington from Cairo confirmed previously received Press news of the awarding of the Military Cross to Lieutenant Ronald Mackenzie, second son of Mr Janies Mackenzie, 1.5.0., F.R.G.S.. of Karori, late Under-Secre-tary for Lands and late Surveyor-Geno-ral, and nephew of Sir Thomas Mackenzie!. High Commissioner. Prior to enlisting, Lieutenant Mackenzie w.as a staff surveyor in tho Lands and Survey Department, and went into camp with tho 9th Reinforcements. He gained his sergeant's strines almpst at once, and shortly afterwards became 2nd lieutenant, and left Now Zealand with the 14ths, about two years ago, for Egypt, where he was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps. His service since has been entirely in Egypt and Palestine, and m tho latter country hp has been through most of tho recent fighting.

I iho following telegram, dated Gladstone, Queensland, May 2nd, published in the "Sydney Morning Herald.'' corrects tho statement that tJje Captain Knyvett, recently mentioned in the cable messages, was the officer who was resident for some years in Auckland. The Gladstone telegram reads as follows: "The late Captain Reginald Hugh Jvnyvett, whose death has been reported by cable from New Yqrk, was a brother of Mr P. G. Knyyett, police magistrate, of Gladstone, and was 31 years of age. Ho was well known in Gladstone, having delivered fine recruiting addresses on his return in July, last year, from Gommecourt, where he was wounded in November, 191 G. Ho was granted a commission in the Royal Flying Corps as eantain, and engaged by the Government of tho United States to deliver war lectures throughout the 5? nn i r J": _Part of the proceeds went to the- lied Cross Society and kindred organisations. Deceased was married in the United States to Lilian Maude niece of Cyril Maudo, the actor, and General Maude."

Mr Edwin Clark, Rocky Nook. Auckland, has received eablcd advice from Base Records, London, tjiat his youncrest son, Sergeant Charles S. Clark, . Artillery, has hecu offered a commission in tho lioya. l Naval Reserve, Sergeant Clnric who, beforo the war, was on the staff of the Now Zealand Insurance Company, was a well known Auckland yachtsman and footballer, and on the outbreak of hostilities immediately volunteered for active service, being one of the advance guard of eighteen who left Auckland on August Bth, 1911. embarking for Samoa with the College llifics Signallers. On his return to Auckland Sergeant Clark was one of four recommended for commissions, but a severe attack of pleurisy intervening, he was unable to proceed to camp. In 1915 he enlisted in the Artillery, and has been on active service ever since- Mr Clark's two other sons both enlisted on the outbreak of war, one leaving; with the New Zealand Main Body, and the other with the Australian Main Body.