PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16515, 10 June 1919, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS.

During the absence of tho GovernorGeneral at the Islands, Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, will act as De-puty-Governor. Mr A. D. Dobson, City Surveyor, was nominated by the City Council last evening as a member of the Plumbers' Board of New Zealand. Mr G. E. Billson, custodian at tho Municipal Baths, has returned from active service, and will resume his duties at the baths on Monday.

Mr Jtv. Cartner, of the St. Albans sohool, who has just been appointed to fill a position in the Technical College, was tne recipient on Friday of a small memento from the members of the staff. Mr Cartner suitably replied to tho felicitations of his fellow teachers Mr J. A. Russell, second assistant superintendent in the Telegraph Department, Christchurch, has received advice of his promotion to the position of superintendent at Napior. Mr Russell has been connected with the Christchurch office for the past twenty-eight years. Liout.-Oolonel Neil Guthrie, M.C., N.Z.M.C., is returning in the Kigoma. Lieut.-Colonel Guthno left with tho Main Body as regimental surgeon of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He was wounded three times on Gallipoli and subsequently sufferesd from typhoid fever. He served in Franc© from 1916 till a year ago, when he was appointed President of the Medical Boards in London.

Sir James Guthrie, who recently resigned the presidency of the Koyal Scottish Academy, in. a letter to his brother, Dr. John Guthrie, of Christchurch, says:—Three big groups are to bo painted for the National Portrait Gallery, London, in commemoration of the war, one of the military commanders, one of the naval commanders, and one of the statesmen. Sargent j 3 to do the soldiers, Sir A. Cop© the sailors, and they have asked mo to do the statesmen. It is a very big job and I declined at first, but Sargent is very keen about it, and I have agreed now. The other groups have 22 and 23 figures each, mine has 17. Tho late Mr S. Drabble, the latest city victim to the toll of the motor, who died in the Christcliurch Hospital on Sunday morning, as a result of injuries received in a motoring accident, was a young man of great promise. To his many friends he was known as "Big Sam." He had only passed his "teens" and was 6ft 3in in height; was a prominent forward in tho Linwood first fifteen, and was looked on as a certainty for rehonours. At ono time he was enpaped as a clerk in the Chrjstchtirrh Pensinn<;_ Office, and was transfer red to Wellington, where ho resijmed. and joirip/l the G-ovemrne-it Lifo ]>snrnnce Department, returning to Wellington as an insurance canvasser.