OBITUARY

SIR JOSEPH KINSEY

The death occurred yesterday of a very well-known Christchurch resident, Sir Joseph Kinsey, founder of the firm of Kinsey and Company, and a well-known collector and connoisseur of art of all kinds. Sir Joseph, who lived at "Warrimoo," 66 Papanui road, was well known throughout New Zealand because of his close connexion witn the expeditions to the Aerobe of Captain R. F. Scott and Sir Ernest Shackleton. . Tr .„,,+ Sir Joseph James Kmsey, KmgM Batchelor, was born in 1852, at Plumstead, Kent, England, and fas educated at the Royal Naval School, Greenwich. He was for nine years a master-in the Lower School, -Dulwicn College. , . „„ w He married Miss Sarah Ann Garrard, of London, in 1872, and arrived in New Zealand in 1880, settling m Christchurch. In the same year, he founded the well-known shipping firm of Kinsey and Company, Ltd., oi Christchurch and Lyttelton, and at the time of his death was chairman ot directors. He was a man of many parts, and was one of the first members of the Christchurch Liedertafel, and of musical and amateur operatic societies, as well as of the Christchurch Savage Club. He was the second person to be made a life member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. From 1894 to 1897 Sir Joseph was a member of the Board of Governors of Canterbury University College, as graduates'* representative. He was a Commissioner for Canterbury at the South Seas Exhibition in Dunedm m 1889-1890 . , Sir Joseph was appointed Consul for Belgium at Christchurch in 1898 with jurisdiction over Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland. and for h'is services in this connexion was given the following honours:—Chevalier of the Order of Leopold, Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold, Chevalier of the Order of Leopold 11., Chevalier of the Order of the Crown, and Croix Civique of the first class, for 35 years* loyal service.

Antarctic Expeditions

He took a keen and active, interest in Antarctic expeditions and acted as attorney in Christchurch for Captain R. F. Scott. R.N., first for the Discovery, and, later, the Terra Nova expeditions to the Antarctic. He served in the same capacity for Sir Ernest Shackleton with the Nimrod expedition. In 1914 he received the Scott medal from the Royal Geographical Society, and in 1917 he was created a Knight Bachelor for valuable services given to these expeditions to the Antarctic.

In his leisure time he was an ardent gardener, and he also gave many hours to his excellent library. He was a keen collector and connoisseur of art of all kinds. Some years ago he lived at Clifton, Sumner, and the rock garden at his residence, "Te Hau O Te Atua," contained a truly wonderful collection of rock plants. Certain of the rockeries had been made from stone brought to New Zealand from Mount Erebus in the Antarctic. Since 1884 he had been a member of the Canterbury Club, and he had belonged to the Christchurch Golf Club since 1891. He was a vice-presi-dent of the New Zealand Ex Libris Society.

He is survived by his widow, Lady Kinsey, and his daughter, Mrs W. Alexander Moore, of Timaru.

MR ERNEST LUKS

The death has occurred in Auckland of Mr Ernest Luks, well known in the war period and afterwards as a stage entertainer. Mr Luks, who was 54 years of age, was the son of the late Mr and Mrs R. F. Luks. He received his education at St John's College, Auckland, and the Otago Boys' High School, and for some time was a draughtsman in the Lands and Survey Department. After a tour of Europe he returned to New Zealand and was in the railway service at Wellington until his enlistment in the 19th Reinforcements. At Featherston camp Mr Luks became renowned as an organiser of concerts and other entertainments. He was assisted by Miss Wendy Lonsdale, another talented performer, whom he married at the camp just before his reinforcement was due to sail. Mr Luks was the author of "The Trentham March Song," a composition which became very popular with the New Zealand troops in England and France. After three years he was invalided home, and for some years appeared professionally with his wife in musical sketches in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Luks never really recovered from the effects of war service, and his death occurred after a short illness. The funeral at Waikumete was conducted by the Rev. Jasper Calder, a schoolmate.

MR A. S. MURDOCH

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, May 5. The death of Mr Arthur Stuart Murdoch, a former manager of the Bank of Australasia in Auckland, occurred in Melbourne last Saturday. Mr Murdoch, who was 69 years of age, was for many years in the service of the Bank of Australasia, and at the time. of his retirement in 1926 he was manager of the Auckland branch. He was in Auckland for several years, and before coming here he was sub-insoector for the bank in Australia and New Zealand.

MR C. A. FLETCHER

(lUS> AiSOCIATIO* TBLBOftIM.k WELLINGTON, May 5. A well-known resident of Wellington, Mr Charles Augustus Fletcher, died at his residence. He was 70 years of age. He was in business for 30 years as a chemist. Mr Fletcher was eaucated at Christ's College, where he was one of the first students at the college. Mr G. F. Hart, the All Black footballer, is a nephew.