PERSONAL.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14408, 19 May 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Lieutenant Norman Thompson, son of Mr. F. A. Thompson, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson, wlo went to France with the Tunnelling Corps, has been promoted to the rank of captain. •

The death occurred at Balelutha recently of Mrs. Alison McNeil (Mayoress of the borough)^ The deceased lady, who wWin rer fifty-seventh year, was born in West Taieri in 1861, and when a child went to Balclutha with her parents.

Professor Worley, of Auckland University College, is spending lii s vacation in Nelson.

Dr. Gibbs, who has been attending to military duties at Christchurch, will return to Nelson by this morning's steamer, and resume practice.

The General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia elected the llev. J. E. Carruthers General President for the ensuing three years, says a Press Association cable.

Mr. George Gray., the well-known billiardist, wfco has recently completed an extensive tour of Canada and the United States, is about to make a tour through the Dominion, giving exhibition games.

The Primate, Bishop Nevill, at the clo-se of his sermon at St. Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin, on Sunday last, leferred to tho fact tt at he had that clay readied his eightieth year, and that he had been Bishop of the diocese for 46 years.

Miss Helen Mackenzie, daughter nf 'the High Commisisoner, has been obliged to relinquish tre secretaryship of the New Zealand War Contingent Association Committee, in London, owing to the pressure of work on other committees. Mrs. Wilson, who has been assistant hon. secretary for many months, has been appointed hon. secretary.

Captain Bernard Lankshear ("fourr): son of Mr. J. W. Lankshear, of Wellington), who recently returned to New Zealand invalided, is recovering from shell shock which he sustained wl lie leading his men in the Battle of Flers, on September 15tt' tast. Captain l.ankshear was amongst the first lot of men to enlist in Wellington, and went away to serve in Samoa on August 16th, 1014. Returning to the Dominion, lie at once entered the camp at Trentham, and left as a lieutenant in reinforcements for Egypt, where he was promoted to a captaincy after hostilities with tie Senussi.

News lias been received in Wellington of the death in France, on May Bth, from bronchial pneiynonia, of Rifleman John, H. Cruickshank, who left with the 16th Reinforcements. The deceased was the third son of the late Mr J. D. Cruickshank, and was born in 1864 at the Upper Hutt, where his father had a sawmill. In order to qualify for active service, the deceased submitted in Wellington to the amputation of two of his toes. When he .enlisted, Rifleman Cruickshank was" farming at Manakau, where his widow is still residing.

Mr. and Mrs. E. Hoult, of Wai-iti, celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage on Monday last at their residence, by a reunion of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Hoult have lived at their present home practically all their married life, and by their unfailing hospitality and kindness have endeared themselves to their neighbours and a wide circle of friends. No one need wish for a better testimonial than the respect and esteem of their neighbours, and Mr. and /Mrs.' Hoiilt can rest assured that they have that, while they also have the very'best wishes for their future health and comfort. The family consisted of five daughters and five sons. Four daughters and four sons are living and settled in tie Nelson district. As a souvenir of the occasion they presented their parents with a Morris chair each.

Mr. George David Thomas, a Maori war' veteran, answered the last roll call at Wanganui last week. When quite young deceased went with his parents to India, and he could remember all the horrors: of the Indian mutiny. He arrived in New Zealand in the early 'sixties, and in 1866 enlisted in the 2nd Waikato Regiment, and later joined the Armed Constabulary Field Force. He was on active service from 1868 to 1870. Deceased had been a resident of Wanganui since 1884. Three of his sons have been engaged in the great struggle—one was killed at Gallipoli, and two were wounded in France^—one very seriously—but both are now back in the firing line. The deceased also leaves a widow and three daughters.

Captain R. Neville, of the Union Steam Ship Company, who is well known in New Zealand shipping circles generally, is retiring after spending 41 years in the Union Company's service (says the "Otago Daily Times"). He entered it as second officer, and during the 34 year v s .he has been master has been in command, at one time or another, of practically every steamer in the company's service. His fine record as a master k thus 3, lons-established one, and he is one of tfce" best-known and most popular captains m Australasian waters. In recognition of his long services the directors of tie Union Company made Captain Neville a presentation. In making the presentation, Mr. John Roberts, C.M.G. (actincchairman of directors), voiced the company's regret that Captain Neville L-ad reached the time for retiring

On next Mrs. Job Vile, of Pahiatua, will attain her 100 th birthday, fehe fcas had the unique expert ence of seeing no less than five generations of her family. Mrs. Vile was iqi™ .m il Some. rsetshire, England, in 181/, in the roign of George 111. She has, therefore, lived under five British | Sovereigns She was present in London at t he Coronation of tie late Queen Victoria m 1837. Her maiden name I was Ann Foster. At the a^e of : twenty-eight she.was married to the ate Mr. John Vile, who predeceased T?r\ Slf 6e M °r seventee» years. In 1806 the family came to New Zealand m the .ship Anne Wilson, wiich was known as the "starved ship» Although confined to her bed for some time back, a* the result of an accident Mrs. \„« 3 till retains her mental faculties, and can discuss for hours the girrmg events of her earlier career Vile, John } lh P^i^), and Henry Vile, Hima■tnjiKi /P^lrrnreton N orth) . Her'daughM. r^° llie1lie , late M»-H. Eagle and Mis ,-T. l-T flS tj,n, tte latter bein 2 a c;ront-ffv.o.idn, o tber.--She has twenty. one grandsons, eleven granddaughters: •■"""'* .eignty great-grandchildren, and - several great-great-grandchildren ■ • l!