PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 265, 8 October 1942, Page 4

PERSONAL

Tlie friends of Leading-Aircraftman Syversen, of Palmerston North, will be interested to know that he has returned homo from overseas.

Temporary Sub-Lieut. W. L. Griffen, R.N.Z.N.V.R., son of Mr G. L. Griffen, of Marton, has been slightly injured, according to a naval casualty report.

Mr A. Morton, of Egmont Village, Taranaki, was a visitor to Palmerston North to-day for a meeting of the Masscy College Board of Governors, of which he is chairman.

Rev. D. C. Herron, of Knox Church, Dunedin. has been nominated by the Auckland Presbytery for the post of Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand for the year 1943-44. Mr and Mrs A. Kilgour, of Ferguson Street West, recently received a cable from their son. Mr Len Kilgour, in Canada, that he has received his commission in the 11.C.A.F. PilotOfficer Kilgour was an employee of the local Post Office in civilian life. Mr David Lilly, who was engaged in the drapery business in Bulls for many years prior to his retiring to live in Wanganui, died recently at the age of 79 years He was born in Sligo, Ireland, and came to New Zealand when a young man. He was well-known to pioneer settlers of the Lower Rangitikei district. The death has occurred at Waiukn of Mr Alfred Bashford, who was in his 102nd year. He enjoyed remarkable health, and on the occasion of his 100th birthday was able to say that he had never in his life had a day's illness serious enough to keep him in bed. Mr Bashford was twice married and there are 53 descendants now living.

The Wanganui Presbytery, meeting at Marton this week, unanimously agreed to nominate Mr T. C. Brash, of Wellington, as Moderator-designate of the General Assembly. Mr Brash, who is well-known as chief executive officer of the New Zealand Dairy Board and president of the Fruitgrowers' Federation, has served on numerous committees of the Presbyterian Church and was moderator of the Wellington Presbytery in 1938.

Rev. A. L. Dixon, of St. Paul's, Fcilding, tendered his resignation in order to undertake overseas chaplaincy work, at a meeting of the AVanganui Presbytery this week. The session and congregation of St. Paul's expressed their regret at the impending departure of their minister and agreed to place no object in the way of Mr Dixon's accepting this call. On the motion of Rev. J. Hubgard, Mr Dixon's resignation was accepted with regret and congratulations extended to him. Recognition of one of the most spectacular epics of the air war is given in the announcement of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to the late Aeting-Flight-Lieutenant 0. V. Tracey, R.A.F., formerly of Dunedin. He saw a comrade parachute from his . aircraft while in combat with enemy fighters over the Western Desert. At great risk to himself ho followed the parachuting airman to. the ground, landed, picked him up, and brought him back to the base in his fighter aircraft. The D.F.C. is not awarded posthumously and the decision to make the award was made before Flight-Lieut: Tracey's death was officially presumed by the Air Ministrv a "short time ago. His widow resides at Harrow, Middlesex. England, and his mother is Mrs M. E. Tracey, of Dunedin.