PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3140, 19 July 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Speaker of tho Legislative Council, tho Hon. C. J. Johnston, who is at present abroad, has cabled to the ActingSpeaker thanking the Council for its kindness in granting him leavo of absence for the session and in wishing him a speedy restoration to health. The Rev. A. A. Murray, minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Auckland) declined a call to the cbargo at Waikaka, Southland, which was presented to him at a meoting of the Auckland Presbytery.

Mr. Phil Myers, of the firm of Messrs. J. Myers and Sons, at present in the Bbweii Street Private Hospital, is propressing favourably, but it will bo some time bofors ho will be about again.

Rifleman Eddie Vazey, who was killed in action at Messines on June 21, and who was awarded the Military Medal, was tho son of Mr. B. H. Vazey, of Auckland. Ho attended tho Newton East School, and was captain of the football team wliich won the school champion caps in 1812. &s was only 18 years oi age when lie enlisted. He served his time as a linotype operator. His father fought and was wounded in the Maori War, whilst his grandfather, Mr. John Keefe, saw service in the Crimean W alas a member'of the 58th Regiment. Among the list of Now Zealanders who liave received decorations since the Battle of Messines appears tho name of Captain. Ernest F. Selby, of Invercargill, who has been awarded the Military Cross. Uptain Selby is one of the Main Body men still with the Forces, and enlisted as a sergeant from the Bth (Southland) Regiment immediately upon the outbreak of war He was through the landing at Gallipoli, during which campaign he re-ceived-his lieutenancy, and has been in all the advances in which the New inlanders have taken part since.

The death- is reported of Mr. Joseph Maxton, an old resident of Kaikoura, who was born in Wellington about 70 years a"0, and was formorly in business here. The late Mr. Maxton was a brother of Mrs. Earle, of Tinakori Road. The Wellington Education Board announces the following appointments ot school teachers :-Hutt D.H.S., assistant master, "Mr. D. Robertson; Island Bay, Assistant, Mr. H. D. Pnohard; Tawa Flat, sole teacher,. Miss S, Lotlinin; Bideford, sole teacher, Mr. W. W. Kidd; Clyde Quay, infant mistress, Miss K p. Lea; Te Aro, assistant mistress. Miss At. U. Loftus; Droyers Rock, sole teacher, Miss H. Sprague..

The dentil has ocenrred m Christohurch, after a brief illness, of Mr. L. Hogs, well known as a tutor for university examinations. Mr. Hogg, who was born in Hobart sixty-nine years ago, graduated at Cambridge University, being the winner of a soliolaTship awarded by the Tasmanian Government. At cne time he was headmaster of the Ashburton High Sohool. Second-Lieutenant J. M. Barton,, who has been awarded the Military Cross, is a brother of Mr. Howard Barton, of Carew, Ashburton County, and son cf the. late Mr. Tames Barton, of Dunedin. He received his early education under his father, who had charge of the Portobello School, Otago. Prior to enlisting no was for a number of years farming with his brother at Carew, but when the war broke out he was- in the North Island. Leaving New Zealand with the Fifth Reinforcements, he went through the campaign at Gallipoli, and from there to France, where he obtained his commission.

Mr. J. W. Whittaker, of Palmerston North, a well-known dairy factory accountant, has received the important appointment of auditor for the Government in connection with the butter-fat levy, his functions being to. inspect the books., of companies contributing to the levy. Mr. 'Whittaker has already commenoed his duties, which will cover the whole of the Dominion. Ho has, in consequence, resigned for the present the position of secretary to the Bunnythorpe Dairy Company, which he has held for a number of years, and Mr. W. B. Bendall has been appointed to fill the vacant position.