OBITUARY.

ADMIRAL SIR PERCY SCOTT. (BT CABLE —TB.TSS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT) JLXD K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (deceived October 19th, 5.5 p.m.) LOKBOX, October IS. The death is announced of Admiral Sir Percy Scott. [Admiral Sir Percy Scott "was born on July lOtli, 1853. and entered the Navy in 1566. lie was promoted captain in 1893 and' Admiral in served in the Asliariti War, (medal); Congo Expedition, 187-> (despatches, special promotion) : Egyptain War. ISB2 (despatches, medal); and Boutli Africa, 1599-1900 (C.8., despatches, medal). Tie had served on the Ordnance Committee and on various naval committees. and was in charge of the gunnery defences of London against aircraft attacks in 19.15]6. He was a man of restless energy; nlwavs bent on a higher standard than the existing one, and not afraid of reform. Since, in 1889, using his own money, to buy or manufacture his own instruments, because the authorities would not supply them "when he applied, lie forced his methods of gunnery in the Scvlla, and afterwards the Terrible and the whole China fleet, he had done a big work in the Navy, and no one doubts it. A new office —Inspector of Target Practice —was made, for him, and there he saw his own work carried to a, "conclusion. He was the inventor of the night signalling apparatus now used in* the Xavy, and of various appliances for improving heavygun shooting. He also invented the gun carriages which enable 6-inch and 4.7-inch guns to be used in South Africa. He was the author of "Fifty yearg in the .Royal Navy."] ME G. T. HAWKEK. The death of one of New Brighton's pioneers, Mr George Thomas Hawker, occurred yesterday at his late residence, Seaview road, New Brighton. The late Mr Hawker was eighty-four i years of age and had heen a resident of New Brighton for upwards of forty years. His general health and eyesight had been failing of late, and recently he was the victim of a motor accident, in which he received injuries from which he failed to rally. He was a native of Bucks, England, and came to New Zealand in 1865. The late Mrs Hawker predeceased her husband on August loth, 1909. For several years., the family resided at St. Albans, later removing to NeAV Brighton. There are five daughters, Mrs A. G. lunes, Misses Janet, Minnie, Mabel and Ethel Hawker, and two sons, Messrs Harry and Sidney Hawker. Mr Charles Coomb, a veteran of the Indian Mutiny, died last week at the Auckland Hospital. He was within a fortnight of his 92nd birthday. Mr Coomb was "born at .Fa nth am, Surrey, England, on November Ist, 1832. When 23 years of age he enlisted in the 72nd Foot Regiment, and was trained at Malta. When the Indian Mutiny broke out his regiment was ordered to Bombay, and joined the Central Indian Division under General Sir Henry Roberts. He was present at the storming _ of Kohat and Rag Putna, also the actions of Langanur Ivotarea, on the River Bnrman, where 160 natives were billed and the prisoners blown from the cannon. Mr Coorfib also participated in the protection of the towns of Jeyhoor and Tonk. He spent nine years in India, and when his time had expired h 6 came to New Zealand and. served | in the Colonial Forces during the W.iikato War. When 74 years of age he entered the Veteran's Home. .