DEATH IN 80TH YEAR

CAPTAIN FRANK COLBECK WELL-KNOWN FARMING FIGURE The death occurred in a private hospital in Auckland yesterday of Captain Frank Col beck, of Morrinsville, in his SOth year. Captain Colbeck was well known throughout the Auckland Province for his long association with the Farmers' Cnion, of which he was a Dominion vice-president in 1921. He was born at Batley, Yorkshire, and educated at Tonbridge School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. After passing out of the latter with honours, he was posted to the Ist West India Regiment in 1882. He served in various parts of the world, but eventually left the Army and came to New Zealand, settling on the land in the Kaipara district.

Immediately before the South African War, Captain Colbeck was in command of the Otamatea Mounted Rifles. He was appointed adjutant of the Bth New Zealand Contingent and served until the end of the war. For three years of the subsequent Great War he was military censor at Auckland. After leaving North Auckland, Captain Colbeck farmed at Clevedon and eventually at Morrinsville. For a long period he was actively connected with the Auckland provincial executive of the Farmers' Union and was made a life member of the union in 1923. He was unsuccessful in three attempts to enter Parliament as a representative of the Country Party. in the Rotorua electorate in 1925. and at Tauranga in 1928 and 1931. He was a former member of the Otamatea and Manukau County Councils and served as a justice of the peace for 42 years. He is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters. Mr. W. B. Colbeck, of Remuera, is a brother.