DEATH OF MR J. H. W. URU, M.P.

(special to "the peess,") WELLINGTON, November 29. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, shortly before 3 o'clock, the Prime Minister announced that he had just received news of the death of Mr J. H. W. Uru, the member for the Southern Maori District. Upder the circumstances, Mr Massey said, he thought the proper thing to do for him to move the adjournment of the House till 7.30 p.m. He added: "I am not now moving the usual motion on the death of a member —that will be done later —but it seema to me there is only one thing to do at present. We all know how the late 'Air Uru was respected by every member of the House. He was one of the most respected members who ever came 'into Parliament—a man wfiorn we all liked. 1 don't think anyone in the House, even among the ijativo" members, regrets the deacn of the'lion, member more than I do." The House then adjourned till 7.30 p.m. lhe late Mr Uru, who belonged to the Ngaitahu, a South Island tribe, was about 54 years of age. He was educated at Te Aute College. In his younger days he was a famous athlete, noted as a wrestler and a footballer, and also for throwing the hammer and tossing the cuber. He was a conspicuous member of 1 the New Zealand Contingent that went to Australia when our present King—then Duke of Cornwall and York—opened the first Parliament of the Commonwealth. He was also a member of the New Zealand Coronation Contingent in England. His kindness of heart made him generally popular, and lie had many friends, both European and Maori, not only in the South Island, where he lived, but throughout the Dominion. He was first elected to Parliament at a by-election after the death of Mr Paratn. early in 1918, and he was re-eiected at the last general election fwr the same district. He leaves a widow and a family. For some time past he had been a . sufferer from Bright's disease, and knew that he would not live long. He died in the Wellington Hospital to-day.

The late Mr Uru had a great record as an athlete. He was a well-known member of the o!d Kaiapoi l'ootball Ciub, which subsequently uecume the Tualuwi—all-Maori—Club, and of which he was captain. The club had a fairly successful career in inter-club competitions. A little later the club joined the North Canterbury Sub-Union, whose headquarters were at Rangiora, Mr H. C. Wilson, now of Christchurch, being president. One year the Tuahiwi Club tied with the North Canterbury Club (Itangiora) for first place in the competition. Mr Uru was selected to represent Canterbury as a three-quarter-back, and his height and weight made him a difficult man to stop when he got tho ball. He was a spiendid line and place kick, one of the best, in fact, that Canterbury ever? put in the field. As a cricketer, too, ne was successful, and gained representative honours. The late Mr Uru was well known in connexion with the old volunteer movement, and was for some time a captain of the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles.