PERSONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17705, 4 February 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr Justice Chapman was a passenger from Wellington by the Maori on Saturday. Messrs W. Reece and J. B. Clarkson arrived in Christchurch by the ferry steamer on Saturday.

The Hon T. M. Wilford, Minister of Justice, had a flight from the Canterbury Aviation Company’s grounds on Saturday morning, passing over the city and Sumner. He visited tho prison at Paparua in the afternoon and left for Wellington in the evening.

Mr W. Dobbio, 83, Bishop Street, has received advice that his son, Corporal Benjamin Dobbie, lias been promoted to the position of signalling instructor. Signaller Dobbie, who is twenty-eight years of age, is a native of England, and previous to enlistment with tho Main Body, was employed at Riverton as a linotype operator. He was wounded in 1916.

Private advice has been received in Ashburton that Corporal Donald V. Thomas, youngest son of Airs David Thomas, Carter’s Terrace, Tinwald, has been selected for a commission in tho Indian Army. Corporal Thomas enlisted on attaining the age of twenty years, and loft New Zealand with tho Twenty-ninth Reinforcements. On arriving in France he was detailed to go through a special course of bombing. Corporal Thomas was educated at tlie Ashburton High School and Christ s College, and represented the latter at swimming, cricket, football and athletics generally. A social and dance took place at the Trades Hall on Friday evening, the occasion being a farewell to Mr 1 1 . Ellis from tho officers and members of the Canterbury' Federation of Unions, on hisiretirement from the sceretaryslup of that organisation. During tlie evening a number of presentations were inade from unions affiliated to tlio federation. Mr A. Tongue, president of the federation, in asking Mr Ellis to accept a framed portrait of the executive, spoke in eulogistic terms of his past services to the various unions in the federation. M r Ellis was also presented by Mr W. H. Terry (on behalf of the Plasterers’ Union) with an olectro-plated tea set; by Mr A. E. Williams (Musicians’. Union), with a cheque; bv Air C. Allen (Gasworkers’ Union) with a cheque; and by Mr W. Rogers (Plumbers’ Union) with a cheque. Hearty cheers were given for the recipient. Mr Ellis, in responding, thanked members for their kind expressions of esteem and said that- during the nine and a half years ho had been secretary the federation bad undergone many changes, but he had never regretted taking up the duties. The trade union movement was turning its energies in tho direction of closer organisation, and he had no doubt that this was very necessary, if the movement was to thrive. During the evening a varied programme of vocal and instrumental music was rendered.