PERSONAL

Evening Star, Issue 16664, 21 February 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL

The Hon. J. Barr, M.L.C., has resigned the secretaryship of the Christchurcfi Hotel Employees' L T nion, a position ne had held tor the ]>ast 10 years. Miss Ethel Burns, of the Christ-church Girls' High School staff, has received advice from the Minister of Defence that her brother, Private Kenneth Burns, has been awarded tho Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry on the field. Private Bums is tho third son of the late Mr Alexander Burns, of New Brighton, who was for many years in the Christ-church office of the Lands and Survey Department, and who had seen service in the Maoii War. and a grandson of Mr T. R. Fisher, of St. Clair, Duncdin. Private Burns left New Zealand with the Sth Reinforcements, and has been through all the heavy fighting in'which the New Zealanders participated on the western front. He was wounded in the head during a night trench raid about 15 months ago, but the injury was noT. serious.. Private Burns was following pastoral pursuits in tho Poverty Bay district when he enlisted. A younger brother', Private Leslie ("Tomn| r 'j Burns (an "old boy" of the Wnitaki Boys' High School and a prominent Christchuf-ch athlete) left New Zealand with the main body, and was killed at the landing at Galfipoli. Just a month ago we foreshadowed the appointment of Mr Alex. Bell, M.A., as Secrotary of Education, and the appointment has now been made by the Public Service Commissioner. Trained under the South Canterbury Board, Mr Bell entered the service of the Otago Education Board in 1897, being appointed first assistant at the Oamaru Middle School. Then lie rejoined the South Canterbury Board, becoming assistant inspector under Inspector Gow. On the Litter's retirement lie became secretary and inspector, and later entered the service of the Southland board as secretary. He was ultimately transferred to the central department, where his organising power has been much appreciated. Advice has been received which states that Gunner Trevor Greek Lane was killed in action in France on February 4. The deceased soldier was tho eldest son of Mt J. P. Lanes, No. 5 Hill street, Duncdin. He was born in Dunedin, and educated at the High Street School. After leaving school he entered tho employ of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen in this City, and remained with them for many years. Later on he was transferred to one of the firm's North Island branches. He left the employ of Sargoods about five years ago to take up a position as North Island representative for Messrs F. H. King and Co., warehousemen, of Dnnedin. He remained in that firm's employ up to about 15 months ago, when he returned home, and then enlisted with the 20th Reinforcements, and left New Zealand as a gunner attached to the Field Artillery. The late Gunner Lane bad seen a good deal of active service in France, and fought through the battle of M essines. He was 28 years of age. His youngest brother, Private W. G. Lane, enlisted when he became 20 years of age, and is at present on his way to the front.