PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 24, 23 October 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

His Excellency the Governor-General is due to return from the south this morning.

Cabinet yesterday decided to grant Dr. Truby King twelve. months' leave . of absence from Se&eliff Mental Hospital without pay, in order to permit him to go Homo to take up tho post offered him at the Marlborough School of Motherhood.

Engineer-Lieutenant William Eoircshaw, U.Jf., Into instructor in engineering at the Technical School, who has been engaged on important work in the North Sea, has been promoted to the rank of engineer lieutenant-commander.

Mr. J. Salek, of The Terrace, received a cablegram last night that his eon, Mr. A. M. Salek, solicitor, of Messrs. Sales and Turner, who left with the TwentyeighFn I! enforcement, has recoived an appointment in tho Headquarters Office staff, London,

Tho Rev. Clement Houchen, -who lias been wounded, left New Zealand in October, 1915, as a chaplain to tho Rifle Brigade. He liad been in tho Anglican ministry in tho Auckland district for about ten years. When he left for tho front ho was vicar of To Kuiti. Ho formerly resided at Takapuna. Ho was awarded tho Military Cross about a year ago.

Laneo-Corporal H, Sunley, reported wounded on October 4, is tho youngest son of Mr. E. Sunley, of Karori. Ho left with the Twenty-first Reinforcements. Prior to enlistment he was in the D Battery Field Artillery, and was employed by the New Zealand Insurance Co., Wellington. On October 18 ho was reported as dangerously ill at the New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst, suffering from gunshot wounds in the head, thigh, and leg.

A Press "Association telegram from Palmers ton. North states that Mr. Patrick Ashe, a Crimean veteran, died yesterday morning. Ho enlisted at Athlone, Ireland, in 1852, in the 55th Foot Regiment, which was stationed at Gibraltar for some time. The regiment then moved to the Crimea, and went through Alma Inkerman, and the siege of Sevastopol. Deceased, who was 83 yeais of age. came to New Zealand in 187G, and resided for the greater part of that time in the Feilding district.

Major W. H. Meddings, N.Z.S.C., who was killed on October 11, was the only son of tho late Mr. W. G. Meddings, Inspector of Telographs. The late Major Meddings, wlio was born in 1871, ims educated at the Christchurcli Boys' High School, and took a lceen interest in volunteer as well as Territorial matters. Be held the offica of A.Q.M.G., Canterbury district, and was later appointed group officer at Nelson. Major Meddings left New Zealand in command of the Twentythird 'Reinforcements, and went to Francs in charge of the No. 2 Canterbury Battalion. Before joining the New Zealand Staff, Major Meddings was Customs clerk for the Farmers' Co-operativo Association, whose employ he entered in 1898. Tho many friends of Mr. David W. Duthie, general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, will regret to learn tbat his son, Lieutenant D. K. Dutliio, has been killed iu action at the front.

Captain .T. Morrison, of tho Union Steam Ship Company, recently, vacated his command, and thereby severed his connection for tho time being with Samoa, where on steamer days his familiar iiguro and genial presence wero always warmly welcomed everywhere. During tho occupation of Samoa ho has been responsible 011 many occasions for tho conveyance of troops between there and NewZealand, and tho uniform courtesy and consideration extended to them while under his caro won for tho popular commander tho esteem of all ranks. In these circumstances the officers of the garrison seized tho opportunity to testify their esteem and to recognise the services rendered to members of the garrison by the presentation of a framed illuminated address, The work is a splendwl examplo of the illuminator's art, tho view of Apia Harbour, dono in tempera and wator-colour, at tho head of tho text, being most artistic.

Major John L. Saunders, who l<.as heen promoted to the rank of temporary lieutenant-colonel, was a Bachelor of Dental Surgery, and at the outbreak of the war was in charge of the dontal department of tho Christohurch Hospital. In the Battle of tho Somme ho was shot by a sniper, and returned to England, where he has been officer commanding Olago-Cantcrbiiry reserves at Sling Camp. He was promoted lo major in England. Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel Saunders, who is only SB years of age, was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches, and his na.me appeared in the Birthday Honours list for tie D.S.O.

A Press Association message from Ashburton states tbat the-death obcurrcd on Sunday of Mr. Thomas Hancox, a member of Iho staff of tho "Mail" and "Guar(liii n." for over thirty-live years, and printer anil publisher of both papers from May 10, 1881!, till his demise.

The midden death of Mr. Charles I'. flrceiislade, one of tho founders of Speight and Oo.'s brewery, is reported from Dunedin. Deceased, who was born in Devon iu 1843, arrived in New Zealand lit the ago of 21. He was a director of various joint-stock companies, and had been an active bowler.

Mr. James llenry, whose death occurred in Wellington last week, wns a veteran of the 18th Ttoyal Irish Fusiliers, which regiment he joined when 18 years or age. He cams to New Zealand over :>0 years ago, arriving at Auckland, and wus 77 years of ago at tho time of his death. He was connected with the Veterans' Association at Dunedin for many years before coming to Wellington. He had been in very bad health for some time, and during the pnßt W> years he iros confined to his tied. Hia one wish was Uiat he should be buried as a soldier, and the Veterans' Association was able, at the last minute, to arningo for a military funeral. In this connection the association expresses its sincere thanks to Captain Cross and other officers of tho Dufenco Department for the assistance they gave. The Trer* tiiam Baud was in attendance, and the Garrison Artillery supplied tho firing party.

Captain .4. C. H. Millar, M.C., of Wellington, iras killed in action on October IS. Captain Millar, who was the only son of Mr. Walter C. Millar, of the Government Printing Office, and a grandson of Captain Joseph Hyde, of Wellington, who served through the Crimean War, was a native of Auckland, and educated at the Willis Street School and Wellington College. When war broke out ho was a member of Sargood, Sept. and Ewen's office staff, and joined the Advance Guard and served eight months in Samoa, He afterwards left for London to join the British Army, and received a commission in the Yorkshiro Regiment. After a year as bombing-in-strnctor to his regiment ho went to j'nuieo, where he was promoted to first lieutenant and became Lewis-gun officer to his regiment. Later he -was awarded tho Military Cross for distinguished services in the field, and was then promoted to captain.