PERSONAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 86, 11 April 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A Sydney cablegram reports^ thej death of Mr John Norton, the news* paper proprietor.

The de.illr of Mr John WV Fisher, o6 Nelson, fiom scarlet fever, took placo on Friday. Hi:? widow and one of thefour children are suffering from the disease. The deceased was a prominent riflo shot.

Yesterday the Wnirnu Hospital Board granted Dr. J. F. Bennett, themedical superintendent, leave of absence for four weoks. The member^ wished him a pleasant holiday trip* Dr. R. Noble-Adams will act as hi 3 locum tenens.

A London cablegram reports'that ai barony lias been conferred upon th©Right Hon. Henry Chaplin, Unionist Member of the House of Commons for. the Whir-ledon division of Surrey since 1907 and for Mid Lincolnshire!from 18(>: to 190 G. He was Channel lor of the Duchy of Lancaster in.' 18S5-86 and was a member of a greatmany Royal Comioission.s. In 1904 hewms chairman of the Agricultural' Committee of the Tariff Commission1., In 1889 he was made an Hon. LL.D^. of Cambridge. Private Grooby, of Pangatotara,, was taken ill with pneumonia at theTapawera training camp (states theColonist, and was removed to the NeUson Hospital in a serious condition.He was evidently not well on arrival' in cinip, and it is stated had suffered recently from pleurisy. There was no•nodical officer in the camp at the time, and Dr. W. H. Pearless, of" Wakefield, was sent for, and he immediately ordered Private* Grooby's re.noval to the hospital. Everything? possible was done for the man by the i camp authorities. '

Mr Archibald Thomson, who was drowned in Wellington Harbor on Friday afternoon, was well known inr Nelson, having resided there someyears ago. The deceased, who was ai brother of Mr J. I). Thomson, of theLands and Survey Department, was a> popular figure ;m shipping circles at the port of Wellington and elsewhere. About 15 years ngo he was second officer of the old Shaw-Savill liner Aotea, and came ashore to take up a; position with Gannaway and Co., stevedores, at Wellington. He hac? been in the firm about three years, when Mr John Gannawny died, and Mr Thomson tool? over .the business.

Mr John McTndoo, who died at Dun- , edin last Tuesday, was well known in : printing circles and as a Freemason. It was as a soldier, however, that the* deceased was best known to the mam in the street. He joined the Dunedin. Navals as a gunner in 1879, resigned! when he went on a visit to Sydney, and became a member of the E Battery in Christchurch in 1384. On his return to Dunedin, two years later, he 'was appointed ,' lieutenant of theCaversham Rifles, under Captain: Milne, and. in 1886 was transferred to» the staff of the First Battalion, Qtago^ Rifle Volunteers, as lieutenant and! quartermaster, receiving -his commission as captain in 1888. He acted asquartermaster in the equipment of the* Fourth and Fifth Contingents for th©Boer War. and continued to perform ' those duties whenever required righfc up to the time of his illness.

■ Last Monday night Private E. W.r Soper, who has just returned from the* front, was entertained at a smoke, concert ■ .-it Morrinsville by the local7 Rifle Club, of which he had been a. riwniber ].rior t6 his departure to thewar. Mr J. C. R. Watts actingpresident, occupied the chair, and' presented Private-j . Soper ..; with' ;a1 o.ioque, the proceeds of a^ concert helcC ■ leeently, with which to purchase; art artificial leg. In. making tlie presentation, Mr Watts referred to the sterling qualities of their guest, and expressed the pleasure all .felt at seeing him apm in their midst. Private Soperr tluuifci?d them for their kind gift and* ■their very hearty welcome. Patrioticand 'other toasts ,vero honored, and a number of songs were rendered.

Major James O'Sullivan, who has boon Director*of Defence Stores in_ Wellington, lias been appointed In-sper-tor of Ordnance Stores throughout the Dominion. Major O'Sullivaw ■lias been in tho Defence Stores for over thirty-seven years. He joined tho old Armed Constabulary, and -,vas transferred to the Defence; Stores Department in 1885. Since the beginning, of the present war he has suppi lea everything reg i rired by ■ the* troops up to the loth Reinforcements, •with .the.exception of anything: connected ;vith food, horses, and forage. C^i nm'r- McCristell, quartermaster at rrentham Camp, has beon appointed to succeed Major J am^ OSuhvan as, Director of Stores'at. Jackie Street. Captain McCristell sened m me Tirah Valley (North-west-w-ii?' e? >nPa'gtt ; organised by Sir W-v m L r <? ckhai-fc in 1897. against theAtridis. It was-at this campaign that ■tlio ramp us stormino; o f the heights of Dnrgh-u -.ook place. • In the South African, war Captain McCristell serrect an the Trnnsvaal and Orange River tqSvy' o P 1 ol; a r tions between November, Ju-ah-Medal with two clasps, and tho Queen's South African Medal with tw£