PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 182, 22 April 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir James Allen returned from the South Island yesterday morning.

Private F. B. Young, of Wellington, who is reported as wounded, was a member of the ironmongery and hardware linn of Moncriefr and Young, and was well known in musical circles as n member of tlio Wellington Savage Club a.id n member of the committee of the Choral Union. Private Young is a son of Mrs. E. Young, of Salamanca Load.

Sergeant C. S. Fern, M.H.R. for Cobar (New South Wales), is dead. 11a .recently returned froiji the front suffering from' shell-shock and tuberculosis.—Press A.ssn.

Dr. F. Fitchott, of Auckland, late Public Trustee, is a visitor to Wellington.

The death occurred at Tronthnm Military Hospital yesterday of Major Ernest Charles Winst'one, principal dental officer at Trontham Camp. The cause of death was cerobro-spiual fever. The late Major AVinstone, who was 33 years of age, was taken suddenly ill on Thursday, and his death came as a shock to his many friends. Tie was narticulnrly well known in Auckland. ITo studied dentistry in America, and' took his dental degree at Pennsylvania University. Subsequently he commenced practico in Auckland. When war broke o»t ho volunteered, and was apopintcd to Avondalo Camp, with the rank of captain, and later he was promoted to Wellington, with (ho rank of major.

Mr. W. T. Neill, who for nearly eight years past had been engaged in the standary survey of Dunedin, is taking up tlio position of Chief Inspector of Surveys and Computer in tho head office of the Laud and Survey Department. The Dunedin staff of the Department lias made him a presentation.

Advice, has been locoived that Private W. H.'Blundell, of the Machine-gun Section of tho Twenty-fifth KcinforcomenU (son of Mrs. Henry Blundell, of Wellington), Ims been shot in tho leg, and is in hospital in France,

Mr. R. G. Robinson, of the State forestry Department, Tapanui, has, reports the "Otago Daily Times," received notification of his unanimous election as honorary member of the Royal Scottish Arboriuultural Society in recognition of advanced services to forestry. This is the highest distinction conferred upon foresters by the leading British forestry society. Mr. Robinson has acted for 6ome years as New Zealand correspondent on forestry matters to European journals.

One of Auckland's oldest inhabitants, Mr. William M'Gechie, died at Konukoliu on April 12. He was a. son of the late Mr. John M'Gechie, who resided at Papatoetoe. Mr. William' M'Gcchio was horn in High Street, Auckland, G9 years ago, and ho lias been carrying on business at Kohukohu for forty years.

Mr. Gavin Weir, Into manager of the Taringamutu Timber Co., on tlio occasion of his leaving the district was presented by the employes v;ith a gold watch.

Private Hugh Matthewson, of the 10th Waikato Company, Auckland Infantry Battalion, whose death from wounds on April 1 has been reported, was the third son of Mr. John Matthewson, of Dnnodin. He was in tlio employ of Messrs. Hiillenstein Bros, for nine years, and later he joined the staff of Wright, Stephenson nnd Co., in whosa service be remained for over six years. He became well and favourably known tsJ;lio trade both in the North and South Islands. In October, 1914-, he became assistant prodnco manager of the Farmers' Cooperative Auctioneering Company, of Hamilton. In March, 1917, bo entered upon his soldiers' duties, and sailed in Juno last with the Twenty-sixth Reinforcements. He had been in the trenches sinco October. The deceased was thirty-six years of age. His letters were of tlio most cheerful and inspiring kind. Ono would think, judging by his communications, that them were no such things as trials and hardships in the soldier's life, but only gaiely and bravery. His death is a sad blow to his relatives. In April. 1816. be married a daughter of Mr. William Brown (of tho Otago Farmers' Association), and sbo hns returned to live with her parents in Mornington.