CORPORAL WILLIAM PACEY AND HIS FIVE SONS: A PATRIOTIC FAMILY.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 913, 11 January 1918, Page 7

CORPORAL WILLIAM PACEY AND HIS FIVE SONS: A PATRIOTIC FAMILY.

Corpora] .William Pacey (formerly "'Mine Host" at Levin and Palmerston and Renwiektown) has for some time past been in camp at Trenthaim attached to headquarters for home service. The patriotic record of his family is one to be proud of. How many\ New Zealanders are there, we wonder, who can say with him, "I enlisted along with my five sons." One son (Charlie) fell in action at Gallipoli. Another (Frank) "was wounded in France, and is now on active service under General Allenby in Palestine. The other three (Alf., Teddy, and Cecil) are all at the fighting front in France. Corporal William Pacey (the father of these fine, lads) enlisted in the 13th Reinforcements, but met with an accident and was discharged. He then offered for home service and, being accepted, has be.en in camp for the last ten months. None of the Paceys had to be conscripted. They set a rather different pace. Another Boniface who has afforded an inspiring example of patriotism to younger men is Corporal Alf. Coles (well known and highly respected as a hotel-keeper at Petone). He has enlisted as well as his son, and, like Carpi. William Pacey, is on home service at headquarters. These kind of sturdy colonists that young countries must rejoice in. It is a pity that Australia isn't full of them. One such is worth a whole street of slackers. » » • '» «• Mr. Thomas Elliott Wilson, of Taihape, an old and highly-esteemed New Zealand journalist, passed away on Tuesday afternoon in Dr. Herbert's private hospital in Bowen-street. Mr. Wilson began his printing career as a compositor in Otago- many years ago, and quickly launched out for himself. He watched closely the growth of settlement, and wherever new country was opened up he was in with the first batch of pioneers to plant a newspaper, no less than fourteen country newspapers in various parts of New Zealand—some of them quite big guns now—owe theii* foundation to Mr. Wilson's spirited initiative. "He was the pioneer journalist of Hawera, Stratford, Taihape, among other towns. ' His first venture was the "Brujee Herald" at Milton, 26 years ago.

Mr. Will son was a great admirer of the late Hon. R. J. Seddon and an enthusiastic Liberal withal, and whenever he leased a newspaper —as he was in the habit of doing whenever he had got it firmly established —he -usually made it a cardinal condition that its political colour should be Liberal and that it shoxild support King Dick. The "Taihape Post" was the last paper Mr. Wilson founded, and in Taihape he made his home and' in a variety of ways exerted himself to promote the development of the district. He was a man of wide and active sympathies, exemplary in all the relations of ttife, and a sterling progressive colonist. He is survived by his wife and a daughter—the only child. Mrs. Wilson was a daughter of the late Mr. L. Gibbs, of Otago. who was the representative for Oamaru on the Otago Provincial Council in the year that the Provincial Councils were abolished. '

Captain B. W. Dunn, whose photograph appears in this issue, and of whom advice has been received that he has been awarded the Military Cross, is a son of the late Mr. J. W. Dunn, of Riddiford-street. and a brother of Mr. Harry Dunn, of the Tramway Inspection Staff. Before going to the front, Captain Dunn was attached to the Garrison Artillery, having risen from gunner to first lieutenant in the No. 3 Company in charge at Fort Dorset. He mobilised, with his unit at the outbreak of war, and has been on duty since the first day of the great trouble. When it was possible for him to do so, Lieut. Dunn took the. earliest opportunity of enlisting with the Expeditionary Forces, being attached to the Artillery section of the 7th Reinforcements. * * * * Captain Dunn received • his third star whilst on active service, and for some time past) has been in charge of the Brigade Ammunition column attached to the battery commanded by

his old comrade, Major W. H. Johnson. At Fort Dorset, Captain Dunn was extremely popular, and., although noted as a strict disciplinarian, his nien realised that he was carrying out his duties with as much consideration for them as regulations and efficiency would permit. It is not a surprise to many that he has achieved distinction, as it was generally felt that his'. ability and enthusiasm would carry him a long way. Unfortunately, with the good news comes advice that Captain Dunn has heen favoured by* Fritz with a memento in the form of a facial wound, which, so far as is known, is not likely to prove serious. Captain Dunn has four brothers serving at the Front, and before the war was a mem- ' ber of the staff of Messrs. Bing, Harris, and CoJ He is also a member of. the Commercial Travellers' Club, .and is well-known in musical circles. * * * :■ * Mr. W. Newton, Deputy-Chief In-~ speetor in the Labour Department, has just been made Conciliation Commissioner of the Central District in succession to Mr. Haggar, who takes the late Mr. Triggs' place in Otago and Southland. Mr. Newton was born in' Leicester 50 years ago, and the last 40 ; years he has spent in New Zealand,

(Labour Department) just appointed Conciliation Commissioner for Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, Marlborough and Wesiland. ■, . °

chiefly Christchurch, where he was brought up to the furniture trade. He has taken a hand in local government affairs at St. Alban's, he is a -Past Orrand Druid of Canterbury, and for four years was a member of the Canterbury Conciliation Board, and since 1900 has been an inspector of factories. Ihereforehehad excellent training for his new position, and, being a man of good judgment and tact, he ought to be a past master in the gentle art of conciliation.