OBITUARY.

MR THOMAS WALKER. Mr Thomas Walker, who passed away suddenly at his residence, Abberley road, St. Albans, last week, was well known in connexion with Druidism and friendly society work generally. Mr Walker, who was in his 69th year, was a native of Christchurch, and was bom in one of the V-shaped dwellings that were used by the pioneers till' they erected more comfortable quarters. The site of the primitive dwelling in which Mr Walker was born was on part of what is now the Addington saleyards. His wife pre-deceased him in March, 1916. His father, Mr J. Walker, of West Melton, who is over 90 years of age, survives his son. Mr Walker leaves cne son and three daughters, one unmarried and two married. "Walker was initiated in the Hope of St. Albans Lodge in-May, 1880, and at the inception of the Grand Lodge of Canterbury, U.A.O. Druids, lie was elected Grand Treasurer, a position he held until .March,, .1906, when he was elected Grand. Secretary, which office he held till March, 1920. At the commencement of the United Friendly Societies' dispensary, he was elected secretary and held that position until 1916. Shortly after his initiation in 1880 he was elected secretary of the Hope of St.. Albans Lodge, and since that time was continuously secretary up to the time of his death. As a Stalwart of Druidism he was known all over the world and was particularly prominent in the separation from Victoria in 1890. Prior to that date the whole of the lodges in New Zealand owed allegience to the Grand Lodge or Australia* with headquarters m Mel-, bourne. He was particularly, strong in all matters of finance pertaining to the friendly society movement and the position of finances of the Hope of St. Albans Lodge, which is in an actuarially solvent' position with a surplus, has l.ef.n very largely due to the late Brother "T. Walker's efforts. He was the historian of Druidism >n Canterbury and had complete records of all of tha.lodges under the jurisdiction of the Canterbury Grand Lodge, The funeral took place on Thursday at the Linwood-cemetery, the bearers; being members of, the Hope of bt. Albans Lodge. In addition to friends and relatives the funeral was attended by representatives of the Grand Lx>dge and of a majority of the local lodges. Wreaths were sent by the following:— Officers and members Hope of St. Albans U.A.0.D.. officers and members Mistletoe Lodge No. 3 U.A.O.TA, officers and members Board of Management N.Z., Grand Lodge TJ.A.O.D., officers and members Board of Management United Friendly Societies DiSr pensary, Merivale Football Club, Messrs Mosley and Cooper, Gilby's Old Girls' Association. Mr and, Mrs H.Forwood, Mr and Mrs W. Carpenter, Mr and Mrs J. D. Buchanan, Mr and Mrs W. Conner, Mr and Mrs W. A. Jewell, •Mr and Mrs T. H, North, Mr and Mrs C. H. Clibborn, Mr and Mrs H., E. Hamilton, Mr and Mrs T. H. Walker (Dnie'dinV..tfr and Mrs J. F..Airey, Mr and Mrs R. C. Price, Mrs J. Forgie and family, Mr K. Connor, t Miss A. Walker, and the Misses Hollway, j

THE REV. J. DUMBELL. A very well-known and highly respected resident of "Wellington, the Rev. John Dumbell, passed away at his resi-; dence, Hawkeetbne Btreet, on Friday evening at the : advanced age of 94 years. The latje' Mr Dumbell was a native of the jsle.of Man,ah;d t as a.student for the PrimintivefMethpdisT; mffir istry was trained principally in England under the supervision of senior ministers; After a brief period spent in Douglas, fcje of-Man, he was stationed at '■ Preston and Bury, in Lancashire, and subsequently in the old town of Chester, and at Lynn, Cheshire; In 1854, ,Mr "Dumbell was ordained to the wprk. of ' the ministry at Haslingden. For the succeeding twelve years he laboured in Bacup, Oldham, Runcorn, Southport, and Liverpol. The General Missionary Committeo meeting in London invited Mr Dumbell to go to New Zealand, and the conference of 1870 appointed him to New Plymouth. He embarked on the ship Hydaspes, and landed in Wellington" m October, 1870; For six years he laboured at New Plymouth, and afterwards at Wellington, Timaru, and Dunedin. Owing to failing health, he was compelled to re-tire.-from .active work many years ago. He settled in Wellington, and from time to time he preached for his own and other churches in that city. In the early days of Wellington he was connected with.tliie old Sydney street Primitive Methodist Church. For a good many years Mr Dumbell was a prominent figure in Masonic circles in Wellington. He was initiated in Lodge Pacific (No. 2, N.Z.)) in July, 1889, was chaplain of the Lodge in'. 1891-91-92, Junior Warden in 1894, Senior Warden.in 1895, and Worship ful Master of ihe Lodge in 1896. ' The secretary of .the Lodge during Mr Dumbell'B term of office was Mr T. W'. Rowe, now of Christchurch. At the time of his death Mr Dumbell was on© of the: oldest members of liodge Pacific. Mr Dumbell is survived by-, two sons — Messrs John Dumbell, of Wellington (who, in his younger, .days,, was a wellknown representative Rugby plnyer), and William Dumbell, of Tauranga—and one daughter, Mrs Triggs, wife of the Hon, W. H. Triggs, 'M.L.C.

A Press Association message from) Napier reports the death of Mr Alfred Aspr'ay Gideon, a former gaoler at Napier and Invercargill, and a member of the gaol staff at Auckland. There has passed away at the residence of his son, Mr John Flower, jun., Hira, Nelson, another old pioneer in the person of Mr John Flower, sen., at the advanced age of 90 years (writes our Nelson correspondent). The late Mr Flower, at the age of nine years, arrived in New Zealand in 1842 in the ship Bombay. He saw and participated in all the hardships of the early days. He took part in the early gold rushes at Collingwood, Hokitika. and Whakamarina. Ho was a 6hbemaker by trade, having been apprenticed to the late Mr Lloyd, Nelson. He married Miss Vant, who was born in Kent, England. She came to New Zealand in the ship Little London, landing here six months before her future husband. They went to live at Wakapuaka, residing in the district ever since. They leave eight children to:mourn their .loss: Mrs Bird (Whangamoa), Mrs Primmer (Motueka), and Mrs Charles Timm (Nithvale, Wairau Valley). The sons are "William, Henry, John, Joseph, and George, all residing in the district.