PERSONAL.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14656, 9 March 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

Mr. G. D. Vercoe, who for several! years has been tie preacher of the* Church of Christ at Doncaster, has resigned the work there (says the Melbourne "Herald"), and will shortly leave for Mataura, New Zealand.

Mr J. T. Waterhouse, of Hira, has been informed that his son. Private T. E. Waterhouse, was wounded on February. 21st.

Friends of Mr W. S. Littlejohn will be glad to learn that he has greatly benefited by his stay at Rotorua. He will leave Auckland by the first boat for Sydney.

Mrs Pearce, of Washington -Valley, has received word that her husband, Lance-Corporal R. E. Pearce, is returning to New Zealand shortly, invalided. Lance-Corjtoral Pearce left with the Fourteenth Reinforcements and was wounded in May last.

Lieutenant Walter Frame, of Dunedm, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery in the Navy. Lieutenant Frame enlisted and sailed with the Main Body of the Australian Forces, and was at the landing at Gallipoli. He also sa^¥ service in France, for whichl he received the Military Medal and bar. He has three brothers on active service. .**'■ <

Sergeant J. D. Beattie,* who was recently awarded the Croix de Guerre by the King of Belgium, is the youngest son of the late Mr. Thomas Beattifc, of Napier. He left New Zealand with the Main Body, and saw a considerable amount of fighting in Gallipoli and France. After the evacuation at Gallipoli he was transferred to the West front, where ho has fought continuously ever since, on one occasion being severely gassed and prostrated with shell shock.

A very old resident of Stoke, Mrj Thomn.s Martin Giblin, died this week, j The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, being preceded by a short service at the Methodist Church conducted by Missioner Brooks. Miss Sparrow played the Dead March as the coffin was being carried out. At the graveside Mr W. Condell read the burial service of the Foresters. The deceased was a member of long standing of that order, members of which acted as bearers. Missioner Brooks conducted the service at the cemetery.

Corporal Percy Joseph Jory, who was killed in action in B'rance on February 14tt, was in his1 twenty-fifth year. He. was born at Lyttelton and was educated at the Lyttelton District High School. At the time of enlisting with the Eleventh Reinforcements he was serving with the Territorial forces at the fort at Lyttelton. Corporal Jory is tke second son of Mr. and Mrs. Jory to make the supreme sacrifice. Gunner G. L. Jory being killed in action in the early stages of the war at Gallipoli Peninsula. Another brother, Gunner H. S. Jory, is at present serving with the forces in France, and a younger brother, W. G. Jory, is in training at Featherston.

Australian newspapers have been informed that Sir Wilfrid Laurier, tie leader of the:©pposition in Canada', will accompany the Prime Minister, Sir Robert L. Borden, to the Imperial Conference, which is to be held in London in the middle of June.

Among the ministers now to become supernumeraries in the Mettodist Church of New Zealand one name brought down at the Conference will stir fragrant memories among Dunedin Methodists— that of the Rev; Win. Rsumiber, wno for three years was in charge of Trinity Church (says the Dunedin "Star' ) The touching and obviously stronglyfelt tributes paid him by members of the Conference this morning showed that the same "alluring personality" he disclosed in Dunedin has endeared him to other important communities in Ne\* Zealand. Mr. Baumber has been an active member, despite the physical drawback of ill-health, for 42 years, the last six being spent in Nelson, tit which district he was president. He has I eld all the positions of honour Conference can confer, and carried with him into his partial retirement to-day the heartiest gratitude of his fellowrninisters.