PERSONAL MATTERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 112, 8 November 1917, Page 8

PERSONAL MATTERS

The Hon. A, M. Myers, Minister of Customs and Munitions, left for Auckland by to-day's express. Hs will return to Wellington early next week.

Mr. Charles Berkeley kw arrived from Sydney to make the advance arrangements for the seascn here of Mr. Cyril M-aude, the distinguished English actor, and consul of Major-General Sir Francis Maude, the officer commanding the British operations in Mesopotamia.

Mr.E. W. Cottle, of Trentham, has received a cable message from his son, Pte. J. C. E. ("Moot' 1) Cottle, to the effect that he is improving satisfactorily. Pte. Cottle was reported severely wounded (head, neck, and left leg), on 4th October. His many friends will be glad to hear of the improvement, Pte. Cottle left with the 15th Reinforcements, and previous to enlistment was farming at Te Horo.

Mr. J. F. Wood, who for the past eleven years has been travelling representative for Messrs. W. M. Bannatyne and Co., Ltd.—for the greater part of the time in the Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay districts—was entertained by the staff last evening, prior to his departure for Australia. Mr. T. H. Pettigrew was in the chair, and, in presenting the guest with a travelling rug, commented upon his business and social qpalities. Messrs. Cameron, Kitching, Lowe, and Milner supported Mr. Pettigrew's remarks. Mr. Wood feelingly replied.

The death occurred at Apia recently of Mr. Peter Rasmusseni one of the oldest •white residente of Samoa. In 1868 he was shipwrecked in the group, and had many vivid experiences with the natives, who were then wild and warlike. On one occasion he submitted to the torture of being tattooed from head to foot. This not only saved his life, but as it was t£ chief's tattoo it gave him rank and chieftainship among6t the islanders. In 1875 he was appointed one of the overseers of Mulifanua Plantation. In 1880 he was appointed full manager and remained in charge till 1890.

The Rev. Robert Hall, murdered at Mornington Island, was a son of the late John Hall, of Edendale. He was born, at Taieri Beach, Otago, 36 years ago. The family removed to Ectandale (Southland) soon after. The deceased subset] uently spent some years m ithe Oamaru "district in fanning pursuits. In 1904 he entered Belair College, Adelaide, -with a view to qualifying for the foreign mission field. In 1909 he married Miss Tonkin, formerly of Oamaru, who had also received missionary training in Adelaide. The deceased's first missionary v/ork smong Australian aboriginals -was at Hapoon, North Queensland, and three years ago he was given the itask of opening virgin territory at Mornington Island, and had made excellent progress.

Lt. Clajence Howard Hohnes, who has been awarded the Military Cross, is a son of Mr. Arthur Holmes, Registrar of the Supreme Court at Christchurch, formerly Clerk of the Magistrate's Court at Wellington. Lt. Holmes was born in New Plymouth, received his primary education at the Central School there, and went to Wellington College in 1903, and afterwards to Victoria College. Entering upon the study of the law, he served his articles with Messrs. Young and Tripe, solicitors, of Wellington, and at the time he enlisted (October, 1915) he was managing clerk for Messrs. Meares ami Williams, solicitors, of Christchurch. X,t. Holmes received his commission before leaving the Bominion in January, 1916, and was attached to the 12th Nelson Company, Ist Canterbury Battalion, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. " He was in the recent fighting at Messines and at Warneton, and it is assumed that it was in the more recent fighting in Flanders that Lt. Holmes gained the distinction of the Military Cross.

During the past few months quite a number of the members of the N.Z.B.F. have been recommended for Imperial commissions. Some of these have now completed their O.T.C. courses, and have been posted to British regiments :—W W. J. Calthrop, N.Z.E., 4/602, is 2nd lieutenant E.P.A, ; G. D. de C. Drury, gunner, N.Z.F.A., is 2nd lieutenant Royal Scots Fusiliers ; E. Elliott, sergt. Auckland Regiment, 12/3312, was recommended for an R.F.A. commission by General God ley, and to this unit he is now attached : M. P>. l\vrrer trooper Mounted, M.G.S., 13/1023. has been commissioned to the 3rd Reserve Begiment, of cavalry; B. W. Holman, private, N.Z.O. Curps, 9/476, has a commission in the Royal Engineers; G. Hood is now 2nd lieutenant 4th Keserve Regiment of Cavalry; A. Parrish, sergeant A.M.R., 13/2007, is now 2nd lieutenant Royal Warwickshire Regiment; A, Thalwall, sergeant N.Z.R.8., 26/325, hM a. oommitiion ia the Army Service Corps.