PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 98, 20 January 1926, Page 8

PERSONAL ITEMS

Vice-Regal. His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral went south on Monday evening, and will remain ’in Dunedin until Friday. He is due back in Wellington on’ Saturday morning, and will proceed the same morning to Auckland by the Daylight Limited express.

The Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) left for the north last night. He is expected to return to Wellington early next week.

The Hon. Sir Maui Pomare is to leave to-day for Waipawa. He will return on Friday.

The. Hon. E. W. Alison, M.L.C., is visiting Wellington.

Mr. H. W. Uru, M.P., was a passenger to Wellington by the limited express yesterday. The Rev. Father Cleary left for the north yesterday.

Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., who has been visiting Wellington, left for the north yesterday.

Dr. and Mrs. Harty are visiting Christchurch.

Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., arrived back from Sydney by the Maunganui yesterday. It is anticipated that he will be sworn in as Chief Justice in succession to Sir Robert Stout on February 1.

Mr. R. W. McVilly, late general manager of railways, returned from a trip to Australia yesterday. Mr. G. Mathieson, who was last in New Zealand as manager of the Pauline Frederick Company, returned to New Zealand yesterday as ’ manager of Williamson’s New English Musical Comedy Company.

Air. John Fuller, of John Fuller and Sons, arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Niagara on Alonday. He is to visit the various centres before returning to Australia. Lord Allenby, who was Coinmander-in-Cliief of the British Forces in Palestine and Syria, during the Great War, will probably be given a civic reception in Wellington on January 28, assuming that date fits in with his travelling arrangements. Cable advice from Edinburgh reports that Dr. N. C. Speight, of Dunedin, son of Air. Charles Speight, has passed his examination for the degree of F.R.C.S. (Edinburgh). Dr, Speight attained second (equal) place on the list.

Air B. C. Aston, chief chemist to the Agricultural Department, is visiting Rotorua. Air. Walter Alonk, well known in theatrical circles, is at present art inmate of the Brougham Street private hospital. His duties as advance manager for the J. C. Williamson. Vaudeville Company have been assumed by Air. I. Elston. Profesor Shelley, of Canterbury College, was a passenger from the south vesterdav

The death of Alajor James Purnell, V.D., occurred on Wednesday last at liis residence in Wood Street, Ronsonby, Auckland, in his 82nd.year. Alajor Purnell was born and educated in London, and came to New Zealand with his parents at an early age, arriving at New Plymouth by the Chatham in 1856. He engaged in pioneering work in the Taranaki district, and in 1874 went to Wanganui. Three years later he joined the Wanganui Borough Council staff, succeeding to the position of town clerk in 1888. lie retired from this position about 1900, and has since lived in Auckland. As a young man he took part as a non-conimissioncd officer in the Afaori War, and saw a good deal of active service in and around New Plymouth. For some time he was attached to Caplain (afterwards Sir Harry) Atkinson’s Company of Bushrangers. Alajor Purnell took an active part in the volunteer movement, and was connected with the Wanganui Rifle Corps, and later transferred to the Wanganui City Rifles, eventually becoming its captain. Later he was promoted to the rank of major to the active unattached list, gaining the V.D. He was one of the best rifle shots New Zealand has produced, being Dominion champion in 1888, and was four times second, in 1880, 1882, 1885, and 1892. Innumerable other trophies were won by Ins skill with the rifle.

Lieutenant-Commander F. Lumb, R.N., and Airs. Lumb will arrive in Wellington from-England on January 23, in thes.s. Ruahine. Lieut.-Coniniandcr Lumb will succeed Pavniaster-Com-mander V. Webster, D. 5.0., R.N., as Naval Intelligence Officer, New Zealand Station, and the latter officer, accompanied bv Mrs. Webster and their daughter, will’ leave Wellington for England by s.s. Ulimaroa on February 12,