PERSONAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 48, 24 February 1917, Page 6

PERSONAL MATTERS

The Hon. W. Fraser is on a visit' i the : West Coast. ■ i The Hon. G. W. Russell left for tb Soutli last night. ' The Hon. J. A. Hanan returned frot Napier yesterday evening. ,

Lieut.-Colonel J.JFrederic, and Major T. C. Sutherland anS A. G. Beere hay reported at Trentham Camp for a specie-1 course of instruction. v , j ; Major W. 8.. Meddings, N.Z.5..C., ha'; reported at Trentham Camp for'duty and has been posted to the 23rd Rein' forcements. I Chaplain-Captain Grigg, Methodis Chaplain to the New Zealand Forcewill arrive in Wellington by the Manukj on Monday next. 7\ Mr. E. J. Millington, who has bee] on Garrison Artillery duty at Fort Bai lance, has been accepted for active se|. vice,, and will leave with the 24th N.J;Field Artillery. |

Driver D. Ferguson, a member.of thf 23rd Reinforcements, and until latelf employed by Messrs. Thomas Ballinge! and Sons, was to-day presented with: | safety^ razor outfit (on behalf of thf firm) and a wristlet watch (on behalf of his fellow-employees). 1 At the Gisborne Soldiers' Club ol Wednesday night Mr. J. Shannon, tf the Public Works Department, was pre f sented by his fellow-members of the Re* turned Soldiers' Association with. 7 handsome Loewe pipe and tobacco poucl to mark the occasion of his going intt camp for the second time. Sir. Shan 1 non was a member of the Main Bodl, and. saw active service in Gallipoli ■ be": fore, being invalided home.

The death has occurred at Napier-o Mr. F. P. Warnock, head of the offici staff of Messrs. Henry Williams and Sons, Ltd.. The late .Mr. Warnock -rial for some years with Messrs. E. W. Milli 1 and Co., Wellington. Thirteen: year/ ago he went to Napier and joined fti| staff, of Messrs. Henry Williams aim Sons, Ltd. One of his sons, Lieut. H| P. Warnock, left New Zealand with tM 4th Reinforcements, Howitzer Battery] and is now in France. ' :'■''■• ■■■ I A Press , Association message frpaf Sydney records the death of Mr. W. 'AJ Gibb, Sydney manager for the Nations.' Insurance Company of New Zealand: after forty years' service. Mr. Gibt joined the company, at its inception, and rendered splendid service during his siid cessful term. He leave's a son, Mr! Charles Gibb, of the Sydney office, while his brother, Mr. G. F. Gibb, resides at Kelburn, Wellington. Deceased was a cousin of the late Hon. J. Dutliie] M.L.C. : 1

The death has occurred in Scotland, of Mr. William Common, one 'of the founders of the well-known GisbonW firm of Common, Shelton, and Co., Ltdj Mr. Common was a settler in Gisborne in the very early days, the business being first founded in 1878 under the 1 name of Murray, Common, and Com-i pany. Later on it was known as W.j Common and Company, and became Common, Shelton, and Company in! 1882. The late Mr. Commoa was a! resident of Scotland for the past 30' years. .

Mr. W. Epps, secretary of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, a' former New Zealand journalist, who! has been investigating New Zealand's', hospital system and methods, left for: Sydney by the Riverina this week. Mr.: Epps has come to the conclusion that! while the system of local government o 1 i hospitals now in force in New Zealand may be quite satisfactory from our point of view, having regard. to the distribution of our urban population over numerous centres, it would not be "satisfactory in New South Wales, with its large metropolis. At the same time, Mr. Epps has been much struck with the organisation, efficiency, and.' equipment ofi New Zealand-hospitals, and this sped-j ally applies to Dunedin Hospital, which | he regards as one of the best organised and equipped in the Dominion. j

Mr. Richard B. Haybittle, ol Wool-combe-street, Wellington, celebrates tomorrow his ninety-third birthday. Born in London, he went to sea as a "boy, and came to Wellington as mate on the schooner Shepherdess towards the end! of 1853. For some years he. was eri-j gaged in the lightering business in Wei-1 lington Harbour, and then joined the; late Mr. Gannaway in the stevedoring business. Later he entered the service of Capt. W. R. Williams in the coal business, and was paymaster in the service of the Union Company when he retired some years ago. The living members of Mr. Haybittle's family are, ia the order of their ages, Mrs. Edward. Reid, of Napier; Messrs. W. G. Haybiffle ; and Richard F. Haybittlo, o£ Feilding ; Mrs. David Scott, of Welling-: ton (with whom the nonagenarian resides) ; Messrs. Henry W.- Haybittle, of Taihape; Mr. P. W. Haybittle, ,oi George Thomas and Co., Wellington (now driving a motor in France); and. Mrs. Alf. Sutcliffe,. of Marion. ■'

At its recent meeting the ■ Wellington Education Board, on a motion proposed, by Mr. A. Mackay, of' Blenheim, and seconded by Mr. .A. W. Hogg, unanimously placed on record its high appreciation of the long. an 3 useful services rendered to the cause of education- by the late Dr. John Smith, formerly secretary and inspector of the Marlborongh. Board;, and that a letter of sympathy ba sent by tins board to the members of his family. It was pointed out that Mr. Smith had, during a very, long official career, rendered services.in pioneer educational work which has been of extreme value to this country, but more especially to the outlying districts in. which, for many yeari he laboured- so successfully. Beginning his career in. New Zealand as headmaster of the Boys' School, Kelson, he held in succession the important positions of inspector to the Westland and Grey districts, inspector and secretary to the Marlborongh district, the former office in. the latter of which be ultimately relinquished with advancing years. The. late Mr. Smith had gained the highest esteem of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances by his genuine uprightness e£ character.