PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 75, 21 December 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, returned to Wellington yesterday. The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, is expected back from Napier to-day. Mr. Arthur David Low has '.-een ap.potnted Deputy Official Assicnse at Masterton, vice Mr. T. R. Allen. He will begin duty on January 1, 191-8. The death is recorded of Mr. Geovge Robson, p one of Napier's oldest and best-known citizens. The late Mr. Bohson was born in London in 1841, and came to TTawke's Bay by tho ship Halcione in 1874. Mr. Robson, who was a painter by trade, interested himself in every movement for t the benefit of the town. Ho was for 43 years a member of Court Sir Charles Napier, A.0.F., for almost as long a member of the Victoria and Scindo Lodges of Freemasons, and also for many years a prominent member of the Loyal Orange Lodge.

Mr. 11. Martindnle. or Wellington, has been advised hv the Defence Minister thai his brother, Sergeant John Martindale, has been decorated with the Military Medal for gallant service in the field.

Another pioneer settler died on Saturday last, in the person of Mr. diaries Parker. The late Sir. Parker, who was eighty-one years of age, arrived in tho colony sixty-one years ago, and after residing for a short timo in Gollan's Valley and Foxtou took up land in tho Paraekaretu district, boing one of the. first settlers in that locality. He subsequenly retired and settled in Wanganui, and latterly lived with his son, Mr. F. C. Parker, of Murphy Strcot, Wellington. Mr. Parker's wife predeceased himby twentyfour years, but he- is survived by five sons and three daughters, and numerous crand and great-grandchildren. His death will cause keen regret among his numerous friends. At the warehouse of Messrs. P. Hayman and Co., on Wednesday evening, Mr. R. A. Lock, .who is sroing to the front, was presented with a black radium dial wrist-watch. The presentation was made by Mr. Crane on behalf of tho staff. Mr. Lock suitably responded. Dotective-Sergeant J. W. Hollis, who had been stationed in Auckland city for tho past 22 years, Ims been transferred to Wanganui. "A day or two ago I received a letter from my nephew, Brian Aspinall, telling me that his brother Denys had been killed with all who were working a gun," wrote Sir Thomas Mackenzie on October 9. "I saw Denys on my last trip to France. _ The family has nobly contributed their share in tho defence of the Empire, five sous hav- ; ing sorved. Last winter we had four of the boys at our homo, staying with us for a short time, and when J saw them together, joking with each other. I felt that, in all probability, the four brothers would never meet again., And such, unfortunately, is tho case."

The death is reported from wounds received in action in Franco of Private J. Georgo List, of New Plymouth, who left with the ambulance section of tho Twenty-eighth Reinforcements. Deceased was tho fourth son of Mrs. W 7 . A; List, of Petone, and before ho volunteered for active service had charge of the printing department of the "Taranaki Daily News," of which his brother, Mr. T. C. List, is proprietor. Deceased was an active , church worker, being superintendent of St. Mary's (Anglican) Sunday, School and a member of the vestry. Hβ leaves a wife and child. Messrs. A. J. Cameron, J. C. Field, T. Holden, E. M. Hntchinson, ?nd Vv. D. Lysnar have been elected members of the East Coast Rabbit Board. Mr. S. Adamson, of Hawnu, has received advice that his son. Private W. G. Adamson, was wounded on December 6 and taken into hospital in France. The wound is reported to be a severe gunshot in the chest. Private Adamson went away with the Eleventh Reinforcements. Cable advice has been received that Sergeant Charles Clarry, son of Mr. Walter Clarry, of Eltham, was killed in action on December 3. Sergeant Clarry went with the Seventh Reinforcements, and had seen- a lot of service. Mr. Leo. D. Chateau, representing Mr. E. J. Carroll, has arrived from Australia to make arrangements for the screening of Rex Beach's picture, "The Barrier," at the King's Theatro on December 29.