PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. Sir Francis Bell ing from the Southj Island by the ferry steamer this morning.

Tho Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald left for Christchurch' last night to attend the conference of wheat-growers tbere to-day.

The Hon. Dr. M'Nab has returned from the. south.

Tho Hon. 0. J. Johnston, who recently underwent, an operation, "is improving in health.

A cablegram received by the Minister of Defence on Tuesday reports that Major J. M'Donald Johnston, of I'll Owen Streot, Wellington, was admitted to the 14th General Hospital, Boulogne, on December 2, suffering from severe illness. Major Johnston left with the 2nd Battalion of the Now Zealand Rifle Brigade ae captain,, and was promoted later to major in the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade.

Mr. John Cullen, ex-Commissioner of Police, intends to settle iu Auckland, where for fourteen years he was Inspector of Police. He intends to spend the holidays in camp in the TongarircNational Park.

Brigadier-General Sir A. W. Robin, Commandant of tho N.Z. Forces, paid an official visit to Masterlon on AVcdnesday morning, leaving subsequently for Napier.

Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp is on a visit, to the South Island.

Mr. Wm. _ Ferguson has been reappointed chairman of the War Relief Association of Wellington, and Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp has been reappointed vicechairman of that body.

Mr. John Fuller, sen., of Auckland, is a visitor to Wellington.

The "old boys" of Masterton intend presenting Mr. W. T. Grundy, of Wellington, who is retiring from the headmastership of tho Clydo Quay School, with an autograph album. Mr. Grundy was for some years in charge of the Masterton School. ;

The Rev. John MacCregor, of Martinborough, has been elected Moderator of the Wairarapa. Presbytery for the ensuing rear.

Tho resignation of tho Rev. Thomas Halliday was received by the Wairarapa Presbytery on Tuosday. The Presbytory oxpressed its appreciation of the patriotism of tho Rev. Halliday in joining the Forces, and, in compliance with the wishes of the Lansdowne conjugation, decided to grant him leave of absence.

Mr. John Lawson, formerly Official Assignee in Auckland, died in that city on Sunday, aged BG._ Deceased, who was horn near Darlington, England, and was educated chiefly at Liverpool, entered tho service of tho Bast Lancashire Railway Company _ in 1848, regaining in its employ till 1857, when' ho joined tho Ulverstone and Lancaster Company.; Ho left tho latter in 1862 its go into business with _ his hrother-imlaw in Liverpool, as ironfounders ' and engineers, under the style of Samuel E. Ibhs and Co. Owing to ill-health ho retired from the partnership in 1871, and in tho following year cam© to New Zealand, under engagement, as chief of the office' staff of Messrs. J. Brogdon and Sons, railway contractors. In 1874 he became manager of the provincial railways of Canterbury, and four years later was appointed br the General Government as Commissioner of the North Island railways. Mr. Lawson was appointed Official Assignee at AuokJand in 1888, retiring from that position some ton' years ago. His eldest son, Mr. James Ibbs Lawson, C.E., was killed in July, 1896, whilst in the discharge of his duties as resident engineer _of the Napier-Taranaki section of railway, at the Pohangina Bridge, near Ashhurst. His eldest surviving daughter is Mrs. A. H, Turnbull, of Christchurch.