PERSONAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10106, 13 October 1917, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Mr L. K. Bassett lias been elected pivsi dent of the Wanganui Chamber of t »n< morco. Bishop Clearv is expected back in New Zealand from the western front at an early ditto. A Press Association telegram states that Cr. Staplcy has been elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne. Rev. William Gray-Dixoii. of Roslyn. Dunedin, has been nominated by the Waini rapa Presbytery as Moderator of the Gen oral Assembly for tho year 1919. Misses Ray Neilson, E. J. Fanning, D. Collinson and L. F. Sannderson wove elected members of the P.N. Tennis ( lub at last night’s meeting. Eorgt. Mathieson, of Palmerston North, a member of the Thirty-seventh non-coms., lias been under medical treatment at Feathorston for some weeks. Included in yesterday’s list of wounded is Lieut. N. F. Little, nephew of Mrs C. K. Stock, of Palmerston North, and grandson of Colonel Messenger, of New Plymouth. Tho Rev. J. R. D. Bergen, who was badly “gassed” at the battle of the Somme, is a visitor to Palmerston. It is pleasing to learn that Mr Bergen has made a good recovery from the illness which resulted. Tho operation performed on Mr W. Swanger, secretary of the Wanganui Education Board, on Wednesday, was successful, and we learn he is going on satisafactorily. A late casualty list contains the name of Pvt. Oscar Wood, died of wounds. The deceased, who is a nephew of Mr R. Le Grange, of tins toivn, is a well-known Christchurch boy and went with tho 15th Reinforcements. Mrs W. Dilks, of Donniugton street, received the nows last evening that her son, Pvt. R. 15. Dilks, was Mounded and admitted to a hospital in France on October 3rd. The many friends of Mrs Dilks will join in Mushing her son a speedy recovery. The Patriotic Society, at yesterday’s meeting, .passed a resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the folloM'ing soldiers killed in action: —Rifleman W. H. Bryan (Awahuri), Private A. Rocks!row (Palmerston), Rifleman Walter Simms (Stony Creek) and Lieut. G. Ackhurst (Palmerston); also with tho relatives of LanceCorporal A. 11. TcmpoiTey and Private E. J. Hogan, who have been wounded. Mr F. E. Hyman, manager of tho Lyttelton Times Company, whose health has been unsatisfactory lately, has been ordered a lengthy holiday by Ids doctor, and will leave shortly for Australia, lie will spend six months there. During his absence Mr Robert Bell, proprietor of the Ashburton Guardian, will act as manager of the Lyt telton Times. Miss Stathain, tho secretary of the Women’s Branch of tho Navy League in Auckland, has been presented with the special service decoration of the Navy League on the motion of the Duke of Somerset. The letter referred to tho faithful service which Miss Stathain had rendered to the movement in the cause of British sea power, and also to the unfailing courtesy _ with which sic has always attended to the interests of the Navy League. Miss Stathain is the sister of the Rev. C. 11. Stathain, of Dunedin

Mrs J. Gcorgeson, late of Royal Crescent. Musolbirrgh, whose death occurred last week in Dunedin, arrived in Now Zealand with her husband in 1874. and resided for a number of years on (ho 33 r es( Coast, and subsequently at Gisborne., Slip, is survived by the members of her family, fhree sons and on<s daughter —Messrs J. Georgeson (of the Labour Department, Dunedin). Arthur Georgeson (Straits Settlement, S.S. Company, Singapore), James Georgeson (Rail way Department, Hukeieiiui), and Mrs 11. Thompson (Woodville). An erstwhile resident of Palmerston of many years’ standing, in the person of Mrs S. E. Todd, wife of Mr M. Todd, passed away at Feilding yesterday at the ago of 55 years, after a long illness. In addition to a husband, the deceased lady loaves three sons, of whom Messrs Henry and Samuel are in the firing line. The remaining son, Mr Stephen Todd, resides in. Palmerston, and the other member of the family, Mrs Kilford, at Feilding. There arc also two sisters, Mosdamcs Hancc and Henzler, and five brothers. Messrs 8., A„ S., P„ and C. Greaves, and six grandchildren. The interment will take place at Palmerston to-morrow.

Regimental Sergt.-Major Joseph Chadwick, D.C.M., with the New Zealand Reinforcements in Egypt, underwent a sue cess fill operation last week in Cairo, and a private cahlo message says lie was doing splendidly. His brother, Private Herbert Chadwick, who is also in Egypt, is well. Private Ernest Chadwick, a younger brother, who was through Messines and in the lighting during the last week in. July, and from whom a letter dated August 6 was received, when ho was well, was transferred to the Convalescent Depot in France on August 26. Before leaving New_ Zealand ho was operated on for appendicitis, and it was due to inflammation of the tissues that he was invalided. The latest report of him is satisfactory.

Mr R. M. Baird, telegraph engineer for the Auckland district, died on Sunday, aged 59. The lute Mr Baird was horn in Tasmania, and joined the Post and Telegraph Department at Wellington nearly 40 years ago. As assistant engineer ho was closely associated with the maintenance of the Cook Strait and other New Zealand submarine cables, and superintended the laying of (lie cable to the Great Barrier Island. In 1891 tie was promoted to be telegraph engineer at Auckland, vice Mr W. S. Furby (retired), and amongst other works in that district ho superintended the laying of the Pacific Gable Board’s overland cable from the West Coast to Taka-puna, with a loop to the Auckland offices of the board. _ In hi.-, younger days Mr Baird was a prominent figure, in the establishment of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association newspaper, “The Katipo,” being chairman of the Management Committee for some years. Mr Baird leaves a widow and daughter in Auckland, and two sons, one serving in Franco and the other in the Navy.

News was received last evening of the death from wounds of Battery Sergt.-Major John Gross, of the New Zealand Field Artillery. The deceased soldier, of whom Mr (J, Thomas, of Church street, amb Trooper W. J. Thomas, who has just returned from the Egyptian front, are s tep-sons, joined the Main Body Artillery at the outbreak of the war and has been in action almost continuously ever since, lie was wounded at Gallipoli and sent lo Malta for hospital treatment, after which he returned to the Peninsula, and remained there till the evacuation. Un the troops being removed to France, he was promoted to Sergt.-Major of his battery, which has been in most of the big actions on the West front. Prior to the outbreak of war Sergt.-Major Gross was for some years a member of the “E” Battery of Christchurch, and was well-known ju boxing circles there, hawing- hold the heavyweight amateur championship of Canterbury for some time. Mrs Cross went to England twelve months ago, and in addition to tier la to husband, a son and son-in-law are in the firing line.

Flighl-Lie.pt. W. W. Cook, of tins N.Z. Forces and Flying- Corps, who was mentioned in yesterday’s cables as having received the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and skill in attacking a Zeppelin, is a well-known Palmerston boy and son of Mr W. Cook, of Broad street. After qualifying at the Kohimaraina Aviation School, where he had a very brilliant career, Lieut. Cook loft New Zealand with the 21st Reinforcements in January last, and upon arrival in England studied at the Royal Flying School for a further eight weeks. He was then detailed for duty in France, but at latest advices had returned to England, where he was engaged with the Royal Flying Corps in Scotland and on the East Coast, in the hazardous work of night flying on one of the latest types of machine. Ho is becoming known at Homo as an intrepid aviator, and lias flown bis machines over practically the whole of England and Scotland, and lias had many narrow escapes. In one instance, while flying in Scotland, Ids machine foil 2000 ft into a field of wheat and was severely damaged, although Lieut. Cook escaped serious injury. News of his latest gallant exploit, for which ho has received the Military Cross, will be read with a glow of pride by residents of the district, and will add but another record to the annals of brave New Zealanders. This is “Collinghaine” Suit Week at Gollinson and Cunninghaino’s. Tbo tailored qualities of the “Collinghamo” are being ably demonstrated. This suit combines all the stylo features of high-grade tailors’ work and is better than the average tailor’s productions. In 40 sizes and ’tween sizps, any figure can be fitted. Windows 1 to 5 are at present featuring these justly popular suits. —Advt.