PERSONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17878, 26 August 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr R. G. Dawkins, Mayor of Picton, called on the Mayor of Christchurch on Saturday. Mr J. P. Luke, M.P., Mayor of Wellington, left Christchurch for Wellington on Saturday evening. Mr James Hislop, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, is confined to his house with a severe attack of influenza. Amongst the names of Dominion soldiers recently mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's dispatches is that of Sergeant Arthur Hunter, Second Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Sergeant Hunter, who is a son of Mrs Huntei, sen., of Church Bay, Lyttelton, left with the advance party of the brigade. Mr John Downey, ex-superintendent of the Sea View Mental Hospital, Hokitika, died suddenly in Wellington a few days ago. About eighteen months ago the 'late Mr Downey retired from the public service and settled in Wellington. During the forty years he lived in Hokitika he was a very prominent member of the Roman Catholio Church. He is survived by a widow and two sons, one of whom left New Zealand with the Main Body. Tho employees of Messrs Triggs and Denton, Ltd. and their friends met in Rollestion Street Hall, Linwood, to bid farewell to Gunner A. H. Peters. There was a largo attendance. During an interval Mr W. H. Donton jwesented a wristlet watch to the soldier on behalf of his fellow employees, and wished him good luck and a safe return. The evening was spent in dancing and games, Mrs Baxter supplying the music. Musical items wero contribute! by Misses Watkin and Prisk, and Messrs Harrison and Du Kay.

The flag at the Rangiora Fire Station was at half-mast yesterday out of respect for Mr A. J. Miller, whose death occurred the previous evening, after a brief illness. Ho had been a member of the brigade for thirty years and was much esteemed by his comrades. Shortly after receiving his twenty-five years' service decoration from the United Fire Brigades' Association, ho retired from active duty, and was elected a lite honorary member of the brigade. He was a keen and successful angler, most of his spare time in the fishing season being spent whipping tho trout streams in the vicinity of Rangiora. As a townsman he played a quiet and unassuming part. He will be accorded a fireman's funeral this afternoon.