PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 6

PERSONAL ITEMS

A! Requiem Mass was celebrated by tho Rev. .Father Smyth, S.M., in the Basilica, Hill Street, yesterday morningfor the repose of the soul of the late Brigadier-General 1?. E. Johnston. There was a larjjo congregation, among those present being Sir James Allen, 8.C.8. (Minister of Defence), Sir Joseph Ward, Bart.; Col. R. H. Ehodes, and the Hon. 4. IS. Myers. Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Myers, on whom (along with other members of the New Zealand Forces Army Medical Services) has been conferred the distinction of a C.M.G., was born at the Thames, Auckland, and was educated at Wellington College and Auckland Grammar School. He subsequently took up the medical profession, and obtained his M.D. at tho University of London. At the outbreak of war. Colonel Myers was practising as consulting physician in Harley Street. London, and imnjediatelv joined the E.A.M.C. Afterwards lie was offered, and accepted, the position of superintendent of the W'alton-on-Thames Hospital, and following upon his-success-ful management of this hospital he was appointed A.D.M.S. in the N.Z.M.C. Colonel Myers (who was recently mentioned in dispatches) is the brother of the Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister of Munitions, and of Captain Leo Myers, of the lung's Eoyal Eiftes. Mr. T. W. Ehodes, M.P., has received a cablegram from his eldest son, Sergeant Erie Rhodes, regarding the death of one of the three brothers at the front, Sergeant Ernest William Ehodes. The young man was, it appears, killed instantaneously by a shell, and the mes-. 6age stated that his brother, Eeginald, who was in France with him at the time, was well. Ernest W. Ehodes was well known in Wellington, having entered the Civil Service in 1906 as a cadet in the Magistrate's Court Office here, and was a clerk in the Supreme Court when he enlisted. , ' Mr. W. H. JTagger, Conciliation Commissioner, is at present in Palmerston North. He is expected to return to Wellington to-day. Mr. A. T. Traversi, actuary to the National Provident and Friendly Societies Department, who has been transferred to the Government Insurance Department, was tendered a farewell gathering on Tuesday last by the staff of the former Department. A presentation, consisting mainly of books, was made by Mr. <R. E. Hayes, superintendent of the Department, who referred to the professional skill and administrative ability displayed by the recipient during his service with the Department, dating back to 1906. During Mr. Traversi's term of office several entirely new systems, .for which no precedents existed in New Zealand, had been inaugurated, and his assistance in these reforms had been of great, value to the Government. The speaker also stressed the fact that, the financial position of friendly societies had been much improved during Mr. Traversi's term of office, and that the societies were indebted to him for the progress they were undoubtedly making in the direction of actuarial security. It was pleading to note that this opinion of Mr. Traversi's services was endorsed by the societies' officials throughout the Dominion. Mr. Traversi. in thanking his fellow-officers, expressed his regret at leaving a work which had given him the opportunity of enlarging the scope of his professional experience, the work of friendly societies being of particular interest to him.

Mr. James Callister, of Carterton, has been appointed to succeed the late Mr. W. Moore on the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The Rev. John Walker. M.A.,'of Masterton, will conduct a retreat in Christchurch during the first week in September. The death occurred in Mastorton on Thursday night of' Mrs. Lett, an old settler, relict of the laic Mr. Thomas I'. Lett. Mrs. Lett was in her 69th year. Mr. A'. L. Wicks, of Wellington, is still confined to bed in the Bowcn Sheet Private J. 0. P. AVa'tt (elder son of the liev. J. Watt, Scfton), formerly oh the ropovtiug staff of the "Lyttellon Times," is on his way back ,to New Zealand. He was 6eriously wounded on June 7. Mr. Scot C'olville left for the south last evening to make forward. arrangements for the "Very Good Eddie" Company. ■ • ■ • -

A city tobacconist states that "Cigarette Smoker," whose letter was published in yesterday's Domxro.v, is astray in his facts. The new duty on cigarettes is not Is. per 1000, but 35., and in addition to that the British Empire Trading Company had raised the price another Is. per 1000, so that in all the rise is Is.- per 1000. Jf the tobacconists could arrange their price differently 'thev would, But they cannot make the increase less than a penny lor obvious reasons. Mr. John Camerou ll'William, who (lieu at Palmerston North a few days ago in his 73rd year, came from Killi'u. PerthsTiire, Scotland, in the sailing ship Blue Jacket, landing in Lytteltou in 18'12. -For several years he" owned and managed a general store at Salt-water Creek, Canterbury, and at different times conducted similar businesses at Soringston and Christchurch. I'roit nn-'istchurcli lie went to Methven to take up the joint position of clerk and engineer 'to the Mount Hult Hoad Board, which office lie held for several years. In IEB9 lie came to the North Island, .first settling in Woodville, and afterwards'going to Palmerston North, where he was engaged in the capacity of accountant in the Palmerston Sash and Door-Company, and later in the Union Timber Company, in whose employ he remained up to the time of his death, being held in high esteem. He was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, first joining the Kobert Burns Lodge at Christchurch many years ago. and latterly being an active incmber of the Kilwinning Lodge, Manawatu. He also took a keen interest in Caledonian Society, matters, and was secretary of the Palmerston North Society for some years. His wife pre-de-ceased him by nineteen years. Deceasedhad a family'of six sons and one daughter, and also left eleven grandchildren. The members of the family are:- Messrs. Charles M'William (farmer. Westmere), Georac M'William (of Ekctahuna), Richard M'William (Wellinnton Tramways Department), Alex. M'Willram (Wanganui Sash and Door Factory).-and Mrs. M'Bride (of Taihape). Two sons (John and Robert) predeceased him.