OBITUARY

SIR GEORGE HUNTER

General regret wiH be t eK •■ throngnout New Zealand, and more especially in the Hawkes Bay and Wellington districts in which he "was best known, at the death of Sir George Hunter, M.P. for Waipawa, which took place in Wellington this morning. He was a man of sterling character, charming personality, and of a most generous nature. During last session Sir Goorge Huntur took suddenly ill in the House of Representatives, and has been in poor health ever gince. He took his seat in the House on several occasions this session, and was in his place as late as' Monday last. Later in the day he became seriously ill, and passed away, as stated, this morning. Sir George Hunter, who was born in Wellington in 1859, was a grandson of tho late Mr. George Hunter, who was the first Mayor of Wellington. His father was the Hon. George Hunter, M.L.O. As a youth, he learned farming on his father's farm, which, strange to say, was in what is now Wellington City, the centre of the holding being Macdonald crescent, Upper Dixon and Percival streets. Later, young Hunter went to Hawkes Bay, and with his brother engaged in sheepfarraing at Porangahau, where he lived most of his life. He was first returned for the Waipawa electorate in 1897, but retired some two years later. He again successfully contested the seat in 1911, and remained its mem-; bor ever since, i .. . , :- : Sir George Hunter has left .a Syidow and one daughter. Messrs. X/ H. and, G. E. Hunter, of Wellington, are cousins. Sir George has long been favourably known throughout Hawkes Bay for his generosity.. He gave land valued at £30,000 for soldier settlement, and contributed on numerous occasions to movements started for the benefit of returned soldiers. . Sir George Hunter has" been president of the Council of Agriculture and president of the Hawkos Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Association. ' . . cm. There will be a funeral service at be. Peter's Church, Willis street, to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock, after which the casket will be taken by the Napier express to Waipukurau.

HIS INTEREST IN RACING.

For many years Sir George Hunter has been a prominent, sportsman, and has taken the keenest interest in racing. • , , Sir George Hunter's connection with, racing dates back a very long way, and of late years he has played a prominont part in its administration, and has been looked on as the official representative of racing in Parliament. He introduced the Gaming Amendment Bill on tho first , occasion. Mr. George Hunter,, father of Sir George Hunter, was for many years president of the Wellington Racing Club, and owned a few horses. Sir George Hunter was a member of the Racing Conference, and was one of the first appeal judges appointed under the rules. In conjunction with his brother, the late Mr. Paul Hunter, he was a breeder of thoroughbreds at Poranga■hau, Hawkes Bay. In his earlier days he raced Cynisca in partnership with the late Sir George Clifford, the mare named winning the Wellington Cup three years in succession. Sir George Hunter achieved a good deal of success with his horses in those days, but of late he had almost dropped out as an owner, although the veteran Hawkes Bay owner, R. Gooseman, had an odd horse or two to train for him, but nothing of outstanding calibre.