PERSONAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16194, 27 July 1918, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Mr. J. C. Watkins loaves for Wellington on Monday prior to going into camp. Mr. F, K. Hunt barrister, has been appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate, to be stationed in the districts of Kaipara, Franklin, and Mnnakau, vice Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M. Lieutenant H. Mackenzie Douglas, of the firm of Douglas and Dunn, of Waverley, returned to New Zealand a few weeks ago by a hospital ship. Lieutenant Douglas saw a good deal of fighting, and has been mentioned in despatches for “conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. He was severely wounded in the right forearm. He is a son of Air. W. St. George Douglas, who is well known in New Plymouth. In connection with tho recent State examination for nurses, members of the New Plymouth Hospital nursing staff were very successful. Nurse H. A. Nicoll passed with over 75 pier cent, of marks which is a very meritorious performance and Nurses M. Langlands, G. Hamblyn, V. Stanton, H. Jemison, G. Hodge and A. Taylor were also successful. In fact all the candidates from the local hospital who sat for examination passed, a tribute to their own capabilities and the excellent training received at the local institution. Th© death of Captain Ray James Fitzgerald, of the British Air Service, is reported. Captain Fitzgerald was 27 years of ago, and was a. son of Mr. W. C. Fitzgerald, chemist, of Wellington, and was educated at the Terrace School and Wellington College. When the war broke out lie was on the engineroom staff of a steamer in African waters, and at once went to England, where he entered the Imperial Army. While flying on the Western front, he was taken prisoner, but escaped after five months’ detention, under exciting circumstances. Returning to England, he was urged to undertake home service, but, preferring a. more exciting life, he was sent to Italy, where he did more brilliant work, and gained a bar to the Military Cross, which he had received for bravery on the Western front. He then joined the British Flying Corps. The deceased was a man of fine physique, and a very popular officer; he was married about 18 months ago to an English lady. His brother Maurice is a captain in the Gloucester Regiment, and his step-brother, Jan, is with the Tank Corps in Prance. Mrs. Alexander Stewart, of Eltham, and Sister Ivy Fitzgerald, now on tho staff of a military' hospital in France, are his sisters.