PERSONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17877, 24 August 1918, Page 9

PERSONAL.

Sir William Fraser, Ministor of Publio Works, left < Christchurch for Wellington last evening. Tho condition of Mr A. H. Bourn, who is an inmate of Lewisham Hospital, was reported to show an improvement last evening, though he is still seriously ill. A Press Association tolegram from Dunedin states that Dr A. W. X. O'&ullivan, District Health Officer for Otago and Southland, lias been transferred to Auckland, and will be succeeded in Dunedin by Dr I. E. Faris, an Utago University graduate. Both are returned soldiers.

Tho purchase of a residence for the free use of Archdeacon Calder and Mrs Caldor during tho remainder of their lifetime was decided upon at a largo gathering of parishioners of Ah Saints Church, Ponsonby, states the Auckland " Herald." After forty years' services in tho diocese, thirty-fivo years of which have been spent as vicar of the church, Archdeacon Oaltier recently announced his decision to resign, owing to ill-health.

Mr J. Gray, of 220, Moorhouse Avenue, has received advico that his sou, Staff-Sergeant G. F. Gray who is on tho Headquarters stall of sho 22nd Army .Corps, in France has been awarded the Military Medal. Sergeant Gray joined, tho Sixth Reinforcements and left New Zealand with tho Eighth Reinforcements. He has two brothers with the forces, namely, Lieutenant E. P. Gray, who returned to New Zealand on duty last March, and is now at Featherston, expecting to again leave for tho front, and Private E. L. Gray, who is with the New Zealanders in France. There was a large attendance at a social at the Charteris Bay Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, arranged by tho residents of Charteris and Church Bays to bid farewell to tho vicar, the Rov 11. Purchas, and Mrs Purchas, who aro leaving tho district owing to Mr £urchas's ill-health. The chairman, Mr O. Hunter, expressed the sympathy of those present for Mr Purchas and their appreciation of the services rendered to io district by tho vicar and his wife, who had laboured arduously for tho benefit of tho residents. All recognised that Mr Purchas had for some time carried more than his shore of the burden of his circuit, but thoy hoped that after a rest he would be able to continue his good work.' He desired to convoy to tho guests the host wishes of the peoplo of tho district of both the Presbyterian and Church of England communities, and hoped that Mr Purchas would speedily recover his good health. Ho then presented Mr Purchas with a Kaiapoi rug and Mrs Purchas with a ladios* handl>ng. In the course of his reply Mr Purchas said he would not have left the district but for his ill-health. Owing to a scarcity of clergymon, duo to so many beinjr with the ■Forces, Bishop J'ulius had been unableto fill his position, but Mr Cholmondeley had promised to conduct services until an appiintment was made. During the afternoon ( tea was served ard musical and other items were contributed by Mesdam'es G. Wilson, White-Par-sonß, Misses N. Harding, Frith, Williams, as 4 Me'ssr* <£. ¥<>ia!i«; tam Q k