Personal Items.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18208, 20 October 1924, Page 8

Personal Items.

Our Wellington correspondent tele--rapheci last, night: Tho Prime Minister who has recently been a martyr to SatiVa is getting better slowly.

Canon Coates is taking charge of the Bluff parish during October and November 'during the absence of the vicar iit Dunedin.

Mr J. G. Harkness, of "Wellington, has been appointed a member of the Dominion Land Purchase Board, for ft period ot two years.

Archdeacon Julius to visit England on a twelve months' holiday. He°vill leave Timaru after Easter next year.

Mr R. D. Benjamin, who successfully underwent a serious operation two or three days ago. is now progressing favourablv towards recverv.

Mr W. M. Bicker ton. M.A.. late ot Hawked Bay, has been appointed a Professor of English at the Tokyo University of Commerce, Japan. Mr J Wood-Jones, late of tho Union Bank. Christcbureh. ha? Christchurch, and intends remaining liere for about four months, before his return to the Old Country.

Mr W. R. Hayward, one of the directors of the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition, arrived from the West Coast on Saturday night.

Among week-end arrivals at Warner s Hotel were Messrs W. Matthews (Wel-lino-ton\ W. H. McCormack (Melbourne). L. V. Waterhouse (Sydney), W. R. 'Hayward (Thtnedin), and W. McUride (Timaru).

Dr. L. A. Lewis, medical superintendent nf the 'Pukeora Sanatorium, has been appointed assistant medical superintendent at the Waikato Hospital, l ice Dr. M. M. Hockin, who has resigned.

Mr S. Manhire. of the trade and; produce division of tho Hish Commissioner's office, London, who has been studying trade conditions in. tho Dominion, lia.s proceeded to Samoa.. He will leave for England on December 6th. The health of the Rev. H. N. Roberts, vicar of Hororata, is causing some grave concern to his friends. He is at present recuperating at Sumner and the Rev. F. G. Brittan is conducting tiie Sunday services meanwhile. Tho Hon. W. H. Triggs, M.L.C., arrived from Wellington on Saturday to attend tho dinner tendered to his Excellency the Governor-General by the Canterbury Branch of tho Royal Colonial Institute, Mr Triggs being one of the original member* of tho Branch.

The Public Service Commissioner announces the appointment of Mr A. S. Wilkinson, of Masterton, as caretaker of Kapiti Island. Mr Wilkinson is a member of tho Royal Australasian Ornithological Union, and of the New Zealand Native Birds' Protection Society.

Among the guests at the Clarendon iotel are Messrs G. R.ussell (Welling-

ton), D. lidgar (Dunedin), Macintosh Itflis (Wellington), C. J. Anderson 'Wellington), W. •!. Nicholls (Wellington). L. B. Brvden (Tuvercargill), C. Qillham (Melbourne), E. S. I>ixon (Wellington), and E. W. Sharp (Auckland).

Mr C. Mac Donald, assistant-account-ant at the Wellington branch of the Bank 'of New South Wales, lias been transferred to as accountant. Prior to his departure Mr MacDonald was presented by the manager (Mr A. J. McKay) with a token of the staff's good wishes. Among the guests at the United Service Hotel are Messrs S. Ferguson (Wellington). C. C. McCullough (Auckland), B. Mays (Wellington), Goring C. Johnston (Wellington), S. K. B. McOlurg (Wellington), A. E. Pallett (New York), J. B. Hi slop (Dunedin), J. Inglis (Dunedin), G. C. Ncild (Wellington), and A. Parker (England). At tho annual meeting of the New Zealand Coal-mine Owners' Asociation held at Wellington on Friday, Colonel W" D. Holgato (Auckland) was re-elect-ed president of the Association and Mr A. McKellar (Christchurch), vice-presi-dent. All the other members of the executive were re-elected, with the addition of a Southland member.

Tho honorary Medal of Merit of the Boy Scouts' Association has been conferred upon Brigadier-General A. W. Andrew, C.M.G., Mr H. Herbert Smith, and Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P. The decoration is awarded by Sir Robert Baden Powell for meritorious services to the movement. Both General Andrew and Mr Smith .received their medals at the bands of his Excellency the, GovernorGeneral at the Scout rally on Saturday afternoon.

Colonel J. Sclater, D.5.0., who is in New Zealand representing tho Canadian Pacific Railway Company, had a distinguished career in tho Great War. He went to France with the Canadian Second Division, and just missed being in the second great Battle of Ypree, when the Germans iirst used gas. His son, Major James Sclater, who was with the First Division, was killed in the famous battle at Hill 70, when the Canadians covered themselves with glory. Colonel Sclater, who was three years in France and one year in Italy, was thrice mentioned in despatches, besides gaining the D.S.O. He was also invested with the Order of the Crown of Belgium, and the Orders of St.

Maurice and St. Lazarus (an Italian order), and is the possessor of the Croix de Guerre, both of France and Belgium.