PERSONAL.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14642, 21 February 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. Peter^Denny, of the- shipbuildingfirm- of William Denny and Bros., Dumbarton, died on November 19th. lnis hrni had a close connection witti New-Zealand, having built msmy of the steamers which have traded, in these waters during the last half century

EinieAt^V any '- blic Works ®*' -HeSld"). arlb°roUgh dist?icts <«*B tte

pointed by the Minister'of Justice £

The Mayor of Westport (Mr Arthur Leaver) and Mrs Leaver are en route to laur an g aj Mr Leaver will attend the Fire Brigade's Conference

J^ ; + Eu Jacob«. who has been postmaster at Granity for some years, has received notice that he is to b£ promoted to the position of postmaster at

Mr. Alexander Bell, M.A., has been appointed Secretary to the ' Education Department. Mr Bell, who comes from South Canterbury, has had a varied experience of educational work and for three years has held a high administra-ti-ve position in the head offiS^f the department.—Press Association

Mr Watson, of the Railway Department; has arrived at Grejmouth from ChrjßtcW, having been appointed superintendent of the locomotive branch at Greymouth, in place of the ate Mr Carson, who relieved Mr Haskings (retired).

«r£® London correspondent of theUmstchurch Press" states trat Lieu-tenant-Colonel W. S. Austin, DSO recently re&umed command of his battalior of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade m France, after being incapacitated for some time owing to a wound.

Sergeant John Vincent, who has been awarded the Croix de Guerre was a member of the Main Body, enlisting in Christchiych when the war broke out. Or. September 25th, 1916, he won the Military Medal, and on October 12th 1917, te won the D.C.M. at Passchendaele. Two brothers are serving in the Royal Navy.

Mr and Mrs D. H. Whiting, of Nile street, have been advised that their second son, Gunner A. F. Whiting who left with the Twenty-second Reinforcements, has been gassed. He was admitted to hospital on January 28th Gunner Whiting left New Zealand as a sergeant in the infantry, and passed his examinations at Home again but gave in his stripes to be witli ma brother, Gunner Harold Whiting, in a trench mortar battery.

The Very Rev. Father Paul Aubry, S.M., has been appointed the successor of the late Very Rev. Deam Carew in the pastorate of Greymouth. Although for the last nine years Father Aubry has had charge of the parish of Waimafe, in Souih Canterbury,' he is well knowE' on the West Coast, as for a number of years Ire was stationed at Hokitika.

The Rev. Father W. J. Peoples, who for the past twelve months was senior aurate tp the late Very Rev. Deaa Carew in Greymouth, has received botice of his promotion to Waimate. It is understood (says the "Argus") that Father Peoples will be succeeded at Greymoutb by the Rev. Father Dalton Campbell, of New town parish, Wellington.

Mr. D. Spilman, a well known veterinary surgeon, who died at the Hutt a few days ago, after a long illness, aged 69, arrived from England in 1902. and took up his residence at the Hutt. For many years he was Government inspector at the^Gear Company's worksat intone. In Eis ypunger days le was a prominent cross-country point-to-point steeplechase rider in Yorkshire,, and up to his leaving for New Zealand was a keen fox hunter, following the York and Aitsty and Bedale hounds on many a good run. :

;. Major Victor Rogers, D.S.O. (killed), was the only son of the Rev. J. Rogers, some time vicar of St. Matthew's Churcfc, St. Albans, and now of Timaru.. A man of fine physique, he was selected for the New Zealand Contingent which went home to represent the Dominion, at the Coronation of King George. When war broke out he joined the Main Body Artillery as lieutenant. He served through the Gallipoli campaign, and was promoted to captain later on securing his majority. About a year ago Major Rogers was awarded the D.S.O. for meritorious services in France. He took part with the artillery in the battles of the Somme, Mesfiines, and Passchendaele Ridge and was twice wounded, the last time about November last. While at Home recent ly tre late Major Rogers became engaged to a Devonshire girl, a distant relation of the family

Lieutenant-Colonel J. Hardie Neil , who has been awarded the Croix de Guerre, is a well-known Auckland doctor. "On the outbreak of the South African war, he left as medical officer with the troops, and served rigrfc through the campaign. When the present war broke out, he . immediately offered his services, and was accepted ard stationed at Awapuni as commanding officer. He left later for Egypt with the No. 1 Field Ambulance, a unit. that has become famous on account of"Hardie Neil's Orchestra." After serving in Egyjlfc he was transferred to. France, where he has been ever since. A recent letter received from Dr. Hardie Neil states that he is nowevacuating officer in France.

I Mr. William Chamberlain, a wellknown resident of the Ellesmere district, has died at his tome, Hadstock Ellesmere. Mr. Chamberlain was bom in Devonshire in 1849, and after some experience of farming in England came to New Zealand in th 9 ship Loch Fleefc in 1877. Mr. Chamberlain was always . a strong supporter of modern agricultural machirery. In 1881 he was the first to drill turnips in. tie district, and in 1884 the first oublic trial of a manure drill for mangolds, turnips, and manurewas held on his farm. That drill was his own invention. In 1883 he introduced the first traction engine used in the Ellesmere district. Mr. ChamberIn in always took an active interest in educational and volunteer matters. Hehelped to form the Ellesmere Mounted Rifles, and granted tte Education Board1 an acre and a-half- of land whereon to build the local school, and was chairmat of the School Committee for many years. Mr. Chamberlain leaves.' a large family.