PERSONAL NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 May 1917, Page 5

PERSONAL NOTES.

Colonel Cbaffey and Major Morrison, who have been inspecting the casual military camps at Omoto and Westport respectively, left for Christchurch thin morning. Seaman B. Messenger, son of Mr Messenger, of Greymouth, who left New Zealand with the'Eighteenth Reinforcement draft, returned to the Dominion by the transport reaching Dunedin this week and is expected to arrive in Greymouth on Saturday evening. Private advice was received in town this morning of the death of Mr William Cook, at his home, Governor s Bay, Canterbury, The deceased was the owner of the schooners Lily, Annie Hill, Aratapu and other well known sailing vessels. The late Mr Cook also went in extensively for farming. Mr J. K. Jeffries, who for the past six rears, has been ’a member of the staff of Mark Sprot and Co., is severing his connection with the firm, and leaves next month for Wellington, where, we understand, he has acquired a business interest. Mr Jeffries will be greatly missed in Greymouth, as he has always taken a keen interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town.

In a cable to his mother, Mrs Shepherd, Buffer Road, Reefton, Captain Norman Shepherd on Tuesday informed her he had been promoted to the rank of Major. The newly-appointed Major was married in London on April 20th to Miss Smith, daughter of Mr E. J. Smith, of Greymouth, and hfs many friends on the West Coast will heartily congratulate him upon his-recording the double event. The many friends of Mr F. Bruhn, of the Railway Department, will regret to bear of the death of hi s wife, which took place at Greymouth yesterday afternoon after a short illness. Deceased, who was a daughter of Mr and Mrs F. White,- of Greymouth, was well known in Hokitika, having resided there for a number of years. She was a dangliter-in-law of Mrs Neil Poison, of Camerons. Two little boys are left behind, and to them and her relatives the sympathy of the community will be extended. A letter has been received by the Mayor ■of Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke) from Lieut.-Colonel B. C. Freyberg, V.C., of the Royal Naval Division, in response to the congratulations conveyed on behalf of the citizens when Colonel Freyberg so signally distinguished himself in November,last- Colonel Freyberg writes staling that he had just received the congratulatory messages. Ho was hack in command if his regiment and found it sadly depleted. They were occupying the same sub-section in which he was wounded on November Bth and 14tli. Conditions were verv hard, ' but otherwise life was very complete. “L am quite fit again,” bo adds. VThjf only remaining evidences are a silver right elbow and an inclination of my bead'to the right. My leg, thank goodness, is normal.” Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs - that the following West Coast soldiers are included in the latest casualty lists:—Killed in Action: 6/348 Private David Lyall Shand, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, on September 23rd (James Shand, Sale Street, Hokitika, father). •Removed from Dangerously 111 List: Rifleman Albert E. Clarke. Reefton. Seriously 111; Lance-Corporal Donald Ramage, Rfmanc-i. Removed from Seriously 111 List: Rifleman Ben Mahuika (Westport), Not Severe Case: Lieut.-Colonel Wm. S. Austin, Greymoutlh: Rifleman John T. Cameron* Kaiata-' Gunnfer George B. Kennedy, Annat.