PERSONAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11755, 20 July 1916, Page 5

PERSONAL.

Messrs J. C. Maddison and R. A. Anderson arrived from the north this morning. Mr Justice Denniston arrived from Wellington to-day. Mr and Mrs T. J. M'Bride returned to Christchurch this morning after spending a holiday in America. Visitors to Christchurch to-day include Messrs H. M. Saunders (Auckland) and R. M. Thorn (Wellington). Brigadier-General A. W. Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, arrived from the north this morning. Mr Georgo Scott, of the Heat hoc to County Council, left for the West Coast to-day, and will return on baturday. Rider O. C. Holliss, of Opawa, who left with the Seventh Reinforcemontp under Captain J. Gill, of the Ammunition Column, and acted in Egypt as a despat-ch rkler, is now in France and in the firing line. He has been promoted to the position of observer and telegraphist under the Couimander-in-Chief of the Royal Artillery. At the meeting of the Spreydon Borough Council last night, the Mayor (Mr W. H. Winsor) referred to the loss the borough had sustained through the death of Mr D. Nairn- He stated tiiat Mr Nairn had been a member of the Spreydon Road Board_ in its second year of existence, and his son was a member of the first Borough Council. He moved a motion, of sympathy with the family of Mr Nairn, which was carried in silence, councillors standing. Mr James Walker, one of the oldest settlers in the Wellington district, died on Sunday, after a very long illness, at the age of eighty years. He arrived in Wellington with his parents in 1841, and was brought up as a farmer. He lived at Paremata for a great many years, and afterwards settled at Plimmerton. For several years he was a member of the Hutt County Council, and at one time occupied the position of chairman of that body. At a sitting of the Wellington Conciliation Council yesterday, Mr P. Hally introduced Mr J. R. Triggs, of Christchurch, WII9 has been appointed Acting-Commissioner in Wellington. Mr Hally stated th,at owing to circumstances over which ho had but little control, he was forced to relinquish the duties. He trusted that Mr Triggs would be as well treated as ho had been. "I'm sure we will be very friendly," said Mr Triggs, "because I don't allow anything else." Mr G. Anderson, Canterbury manager of the Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Company left yesterday for Sydney. Mr Anderson has offered his services to the Commonwealth authorities, and will leave for tho front with the Australian forces. The local staff, with whom Mr and' Mrs Anderson are very popular, presented' them with a case of cutlery as a mark of esteem. Mr Parry made tho presentation, and Mr W. Moor and others suitably voiced tho feeling of the staff, in wishing the travellers God-speed. Lance-Corporal W. M. Murray, who has been reported wounded in France, sailed with the Sixth Reinforcements, and was attached to the Field Gun Section. He was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, where he was'one of the bost athletes of his time. For two years in succession he won the R-hodes Cup and Headmaster's Gold Medal for the best vcov'i' in the gymnasium. He also took a great interest in rowing and other aquatic sports, and won many amateur swimming and sculling races. After serving some time in the Bank of Australasia, he turned his attention to journalism, and when he enlisted was the editor of the " North Auckland Times," a daily paper published, at Dargavillo. Tho recent death of Mr W. H. Woon, says the ' Wellington " Post," recalls the fact that in the " 'eighties," when he was at school, ho was a notable athlete. When still in his 'teens he put up two remarkably fine performances, jumping 20ft lOin and throwing tho cricket ball 110 yds. Six events were won by him at one Wangnnui annual college sport 3. Ho was also a brilliant football centre threequarter, his exceptional turn of speed making him a dangerous scoring man. After leaving school he played for several seasons with the Wellington Orientals, of which club he was for some years secretary. The late Mr Woon joined tho Government Life Insurance staff in ISSB, and had consequently completed twenty-eight years of service. His illness was of _ only six weeks' duration. He was fortynine years of age.