SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4523, 14 January 1942, Page 4

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL

Miss S. Palmer, of Wynyard Street, is at present on a visit to Feilding. Mrs S. J. Rawlinson, of Ohaupo, is spending a holiday at Raglan. Mrs Nigel Wrightson, of Monavale, is holidaying at The Mount, Tauranga. Mr and Mrs Ivan Peterson, of Mangapiko Street, are at present on a holiday visit to Auckland. Mrs S. Clark and young son, of Devonport, are at present the guests of Mr and Mrs Harold Hey, Mangapiko. Mr and Mrs Arthur Wood, Mahoe Street, leave on Monday next on a fortnight’s holiday visit to the Thames Coast. Mr Keith R. Shilton, of Kihikihi, who has accepted a technical position in the Noyal New Zealand Air Force, has left to take up his duties. Corporal A. Sperry, aged 23, of Whatawhata, who has been awarded the Military Medal, sailed with the First Echelon. He was a prominent member of the Hamilton Caledonian Band. Adjutant A. Packer and Lieutenant F. Goodman, on relinquishing their connection with the local corps of the Salvation Army, left Te Awamutu last evening on transfer to Carterton and Burnham respectively. Messrs P. J. Hobbs, J. K. Gage, W. Clarke, E. J. G. Farrell and E. Kay left Te Awamutu yesterday for a Military Camp where they will undergo training for service overseas with the second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. In a letter dated December 9, advice has been received from Private Jack Harris, of Te Kuiti, that he is safe and well. Private Harris, who was employed by the Land Development Department prior to his enlistment, has participated in the Greece, Crete and Libyan campaigns. Miss E. J. Dobson, of Nelson, has been appointed by the Health Department to be District Nurse at Te Awamutu in place of Nurse G. S. Flamank, who recently resigned. It is not known locally when Miss Dobson will arrive to take up her new duties. Matron E. C. Mackay (N.Z.A.N.S.), who was this week created an Associate of the Royal Red Cross (second section), was formerly a sister on the nursing staff of the Waikato Hospital. Granted leave of absence, she proceeded to the Middle East, where she was appointed matron of one of the New Zealand hospitals. Lieutenant - Colonel S. F. Allen, awarded the 0.8. E., is an officer of the New Zealand Staff Corps and for some time after the beginning of the war was area officer at Hamilton. Overseas, he commanded the Divisional Signals until toward the end of last year, when he was appointed to command the Central Infantry Training Depot.

After thirty-eight years’ service on the Bench, the senior magistrate of New Zealand, Mr H. A. Young, has retired. Mr Young has served on the Bench at Christchurch Magistrate’s Court for the past sixteen years, and before that he served in Dunedin, Central Otago, and Hamilton. In the latter position he frequently visited Te Awamutu. Lieutenant-Colonel G. Dittmer, of Waimiha, a member of the New Zealand Staff Corps, by receiving the military decoration announced this week, adds the D.S.O. to an M.C. won in the Great War, and an M.B.E. awarded later. He is officer commanding the Maori Battalion, and when he received this appointment was area staff officer in Auckland. He is an officer of outstanding courage, who, in a list issued yesterday, was Mentioned in Despatches. The following appointments to the Home Guard'in the local district area are announced:—Wynne Peyton Gray, M.C., to be major (temporary), and appointed deputy group director, Group 4, Hamilton. Gordon Hovey, 0.8. E., Arthur Bertram Collier, and Hensleigh Carthew Marryat Norris, to be captains (temporary) and appointed to Group 4, Hamilton, the first-named as assistant camp adjutant, the second as assistant camp quartermaster, and the third as group signals officer. Sergeant-Gunner Martin C. Fell, who has been Mentioned in Despatches, is a son of Mr and the late Mrs R. E. Fell, of Cambridge, and resided in that district for several years prior to his enlisting with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Born in Wanganui, Sergeant Fell came to the Waikato with his parents about 20 years ago. He received his education at the Pairere School and afterwards assisted on his father’s farm in that district. He later went to Cambridge and took up farming and contracting, at which he continued up to the time of his enlistment. Sergeant Fell was a keen athlete, and represented both Cambridge and Matamata Unions. Two brothers, Corporal A. W. Fell and Private H. A. Fell, are also serving with the armed forces.

Having served overseas during the Great War Sister Ethel Swayne, of Cambridge, and until comparatively recently matron of Whangarei Hospital, has been called for further military duties as a member of the Army Nursing Service. On Thursday afternoon a short function was held at the Red Cross depot, where members of the committee gathered to honour Sister Swayne, who was a member of the executive of the Cambridge sifb-centre and convener of the V.A.D. sub-committee. Upon her arrival the guest of honour was presented with bouquets of flowers by Miss G. L. Brann, convener of the entertainment sub-committee, who arranged the function, and Mrs H. A. Pegg on behalf of the V.A.D. sub-committee. After afternoon tea had been served, the President, Mrs H. C. Tod, on behalf of the subcentre, presented Miss Swayne with an engraved hussif in recognition of her work. Miss Swayne suitably replied.