ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 17660, 18 February 1916, Page 6

ABOUT PEOPLE

The Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of Public Works) arrived in Dunedin yesterday afternoon from the north, and will remain there until Monday, when he will leave by the express for Invercargill. The Rev. Dr. Gibb, of Wellington, is at present paying a visit to Queenstown. He is staying with his son, the Rev. G. H. Gibb.

Amongst the passengers for Bluff by the Wimmera yesterday were Privates A. W. Smith and .1. D. Guy, returned wounded troopers.

The Winton Record reports the death of one of the oldest and most respected residents of p'orest Hill, Mrs S. Baird, relict of the late William Baird. The late Mrs Baird was one of the pioneers of the district. She, with her late husband, assisted very materially in converting the wilds into smiling homesteads.

A Sydney message states that Mr George Cann, member of Parliament, and a brother of the Minister of Works, lias enlisted. At the inaugural meeting of the War Service Committee, convened by the Dord Mayor for the purpose of assisting recruiting, the Hon. W. Holman (the Premier) announced that three more Parliamentarians had decided to enlist.

Another of the rapidly-diminishing hand of mining pioneers of this district, in the person of Mr Thomas MnlvlhUi, passed away at the residence of Mr Cotter on Monday, 7th inst. The late Mr Mulvihill was horn in County Kerry in 1839, and arrived in New Zealand in 1862. In the following year he took part in the first rush to the Arrow diggings, and until his retirement from active work a few years ago he had been closely associated with various mining ventures in the district. —Lake County Press. In London on New Year’s Day Mr and Mrs C. Elgar (Featberston) gave , a Christmas tree and concert at the Hyde Park Hotel, London, to the wounded New Zealanders from London hospitals. There were a large number of guests to meet them, including Lady Plunket and her daughters, Mr and Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, Mrs Riddiford and the Misses Riddiford, Mr and Mrs Dan Riddiford, Mr and Mrs Arthur Russell, and the Misses Russell, Lady Bell and the Misses Bell, Lady Mills, and many members of the New Zealand War Contingent Association. The entertainment took place in the fine ball-room of the hotel, one of the best rooms in London. The Christmas tree was brilliantly illuminated with coloured electric lights, and the soldiers had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Many of the men will go through life maimed, but they were all very cheerful and in great hopes of getting back to New Zealand at no distant da.te.