PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 45, 16 November 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Eight JTou. W. P. Massey left »y tho Main Trunk train yesterday on <1 brief visit to the Auckland province. Sir Joseph Ward left by tbo ferry steamer last night for the South Island. Ho intends to visit J.nvercargill, and his own constituency. He does not expect to return to Wellington for about ten days. Tlio Hon. A. L. Hcrdman, who lias been for some days at Auckland and Kotorua, returned to Wellington yesterday. Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, may bo back in Wellington to-morrow, but possibly not until Monday, Tho Hon. T. M. W'ilford lias not yet taken over tho portfolios of Justice and Marine'which.'have been entrusted to him. In a few days lie will bo provided with quarters and a staff, and he will then assume active administration of bis Departments. Mr. F. A. Staples, of Lambton Quay, who has been laid'aside with a sovcro attack of neuritis, is now able to get about onco more. Private A. G. S. Bliss, who lias died of wounds, was, at the time of enlisting, employed by tho Napier Harbour Board as engineer of the dredge Waiknka. He joined the Forces in June, 1915. H. C. Gilbert, of tho Australian artillery (killed in action), was the son of Mr. H. E. Gilbert, who was postmaster at Waitara for some years and is etationed at Rotorua, and was for some time a member of the staff of Messrs. Qovett and Quilliam, solicitors, New Plymouth, j Rifleman Cliff M. Nightingale (wounded) was born in Auckland Province, and on leaving school wa6 ou the staff of the Wlmngarei "Advocate." Ho subse-quently-joined the reporting staff of the "New Zealand Herald," remaining there till ho left for camp last year, subsequently sailing with the 22nd Reinforcements. During tho voyage Home ho won two first prizes for literary contributions to. tho Reinforcement magazine, tlw "•'(aviian'Nautilus." Gunner Charles Sugden Dixon (died of wounds) was tho fourth son of Mr. C. If. W. Dixon, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, who resided nt Eastbourne for some years. Deceased was nearly 23 years of age. Sergeant Bertie Victor Cooksley, son of Mr. W. R. Cooksley, of Opawa, Canterbury, who has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, left New Zealand as a member of tho Pioneer Section of the Main Body. Arriving in Egypt, the Pioneers were linked up with the Engineers, who had been recruited from New Zenianders in London. Ho was rTt tho landing at Gallipoli, where the Engineers did such excellent woTk in making communications, and afterwards in laying tho telephone lines, making roads, and constructing the, different landing places. Afer fivo months on Gallipoli ho was incapacitated by sickness, and sent to England, but returned in time to join his old company in Egypt, and leave for France with tlio Main Body, where he has 'been ever 6ince, The death is reported from Sydney of Alderman Denis Guipen. A notice in this week's Gazette states that the Government has recognised provisionally the appointment of Mr. Sinn Koreu as Consul-General of Norway for New Zealand and Australia. Mr. Michael Hawkins, of Wellington, has teen appointed a Justico of tho Pyaco. Miss Rosa Woodman has been appointed Deputy Registrar of Births and Deaths for tho Wellington North district. Lieutenant Frederick James Brabant, Unattached List (B), lias been granted tho Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Ser< vico Medal. ' Tho news of the death of Inspector White, an ex-officer of tho tramways departmont, at tho front was referred to at tho meeting of the City Council last evening. The Mayor 6aid that ex-Inspec-tor Whito had worked on tho old horsecars and had continued in the councils service wlien it had taken over tho Mrvice. Ho was a zealous officer, and had. given every satisfaction to tho corporation and to the public. The council also expressed its sympathy with the families of two municipal employees, Mr. Eyres, of tho city engineer s department (•wounded and missing), and Mr. GriSitns (wounded), of tho city treasurers department. . An expression of sympathy was inado by the Mayor and councillors at last evening's meeting of the City Council with Mr. T. W. Hislop (an ex-Mayor) at the news that his son, Lieutenant Thomas Hislop, had been wounded at the front. It was stated that Lieutenant Hislop's wound was not a serious ono. Another of tho famous GSth Regiment, Bugler William Middleton, died at Auckland last week at tho advanced age ot 81 years. Deceased was born in Wakofeeld, Yorkshire, and enlists in the abovo regiment at Leeds. He saw service m tho Crimea, and was present at tho battles of Alma, Inkerman, and tho siege and fall of Scbastopol. Hjs regiment was sent to India at tho close'of tho Mutiny, and spent tho succeeding fix years there. Tlio 68th Regiment was drafted to New Zealand, arriving at Auckland in the year 18G3. Deceased took part in the capture of Gato Pah and other engagements in the Tauranga district. _ He also served in several engagements in tho Waikato with the Now Zealand forccs, having 12j years of active service. Ho afterwards resided in AYangaimi, whero he was a member of tho first Wanganni Band, and subsequently in Napier and Auckland for many years. Ho was also (reports tho Auckland "Star") a member of the early Auckland Garrison Band. Deceased possessed the Crimean and New Zealand war medals, and was also in receipt of the Imperial and New Zealand war pensions. He is survived by his four sons, Messrs. David, Albert, Alfred and Sapper Walter Middleton (now serving in France), and two grandchildren.

Mr. A. C. Gillies, New Zealand representative for Bergess paints, left recently en' a visit to Australia.