MR. CHARLES YATES FELL

(From "The Colonist," June 10/ 1918.) "i'ho news of the sudden death of; Mr C. Y. Fell, which occurred at his residence, Brougham street, yesterday morning, will come as a great shock to the whole community. For just about halt a century Mr Fell had 'been one of iNelson s leading citizens, and notwithstanding the fact that lie had passed the allotted span-ho was still actively engaged m- general affairs and the administrative work of local institutions. I hysically and mentally ho belied his years, and it is given to few to retain the powers of mind and body in so marked a, degree and ..to continue to do userul work, for'the community, especially following upon such a record as'is ■that of the late Mr Fell. Tho ,attack of.,.angina pectoris ■to winch Mr Fell succumbed was preceded by many though less severe attacks, the nature of which was known both to relatives and medical adviser. It was however, hoped that as the condition was one of long standing, dating from nis trip to the Pyrenees, a fatal issue might be long postponed. . On Saturday Mr Fell spent the morning m town and the afternoon in working about his garden and grounds, lie ht\d during the course of the two previous days complained of what he thought to be indigestion, and he was induced to see his doctor on Saturday morning He was quite pleased with the result of_the visit and was in good spirits. He rose yesterday mornin"- as usual and after feeding-his fowls returned to the house, complaining of the recurrence of the pain he attributed to indigestion: Mrs Fell administered lemedies as prescribed by the medical adviser 'but Mr Fell became unconscious Mr -Richmond Fell, who resides close at hand was summoned and also the doctor but before either could arrive death had taken place As we have said, Mr Fell was one of JNelson s leading citizens, and in him we had a direct link with the earliest history of the ..settlement and those who took prominent part therein. He was born in Nelson in 1844. The house in which he was born is still standing an d used as a residence. His father, Alfred Fell, and grandfather, Henry Seymour, trading as Fell and Co., founded the merchants' business which Is now carried on by Messrs J. H. Cock and Co. Messrs Alfred Fell and Seymour were also personally the agents for all the absentee shareholders in the New Zealand Company -which founded Nelson. His early education he received !m m Arcndeacon Paul, who resided at " Ihe Glen," on -the road to the Nelson j reservoir.. Subsequently the whole fa--rmily went .to England, and Mr Fell attended King's College, London. Ther^e he went to St. John's College, Oxford and took his B.A. degree. Having P r<> viously entered at Lincoln's fnn and afterwards moved to the Inner Temp ft; he was admitted as a barrister and joined the Home Circuit. After a short experience of English practice he returned to Nelson in 1860 with his wife, he _ having married in England Miss Bainbridge. He started the practice of bis profession, and shortly afterwards was joined by the late Mr A. S. Atkinson, and the. firm of Fell and Atkinson, which still continues, was thus founded. A large general practice was developed, and?Mr" Fell was personally engaged in a large connection with various estates both here and in Marlborough. His connection with mining was also most extensive, and his name is idenfinod especially -with mining enterprises in Golden Bay and in earlier years also with the Lyell. As a criminal lawyer Mr Fell had a noteworthy career bein^ counsel in many .noted trials. He became Crown Prosecutor, and on one occasion was sent by the Government to New Plymouth to conduct the case for the Crown in a .-.murder charge Of recent years Mr Fell did not take so large a share in the active work or his firm, but he continued to take si part, and co.late as Saturday he attended to certain business details. By . his • death the position of president of.,the'-Nelson Law Society becomes vacant. There is hardly a local institution in which.at some time Mr Fell did not take part in the administration or hold office He was Mayor of the city for five years' from 1882 to 1887. For forty years he was a College Governor, and *he was chairman of the Board at the present tune. In the Colleges ho -took the deepest interest to the last. Trustee of the School of Music, trustee of the buter Art Gallery, and trustee of the iNelson Club, of which he was one of the founders, are positions he continued to hold. He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, and was former--1? m?™£ er of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. At the time of the n»i- & tlo. n _,for- railway connection with the West Coast he, with Mr Shatter Weston, went to England to help to float the Midland Railway Company. No mention "of Mr Fell's activities would be complete without reference to his powers as a public speaker. On occasions of outstanding importance he was frequently called upon to take part as one of the principal speakers. It will be remembered that in such n. -way he took part at the great public gathering following upon the outbreak^ the present war, a reference -which naturally, leads tomention of Ms intense paI triotism. which was evidenced in many | ways both beforomnd since nis,last visit i;fco;Great Britain. /' .; - :' , M r Fell■-possessed considerable- niusiI oal talent, and as a soloist and for some itime conductor was prominently identified with the Harmonic Society. Formerly Mr Fell took considerable nart in connection with Anglican Church affairs, and was for three decades or more Registrar of the Nelson' diocese. He at one time filled the position of organist at All Saints' Church, and as n lay reader rendered assistance in the conduct of services in the country. .-...-. As a lover of art, Mr Fell's active temperament would not allow him to play a negative part. In the day's of the Camera Club's existence he was its president, and his own work, it will be remembered, w;as remarkable for its artistry, his camera, pictures Being of a very high order. Within comparatively recent years Mr Fell took up water oolong painting with great enthusiasm,1 nr>d his paintings have been largely ex-' hibited. Tn his younger days Mr Fell was an nthlete of prowess. At 'Oxford he for four years stroked his College boat and rowed-in-the Trial Eights. As a runner be obtained distinction at his University as a 220 and 440 yards runner and hurdler, and "he possessed some fine tronhies as a record. On his return to Nelson-he was a very successful com-! netitor at tho Caledonian snorts, held in "Riohardson's Paddock. His interest in those branches of sport was in later vonrs maintfirncd in connection with the Nelson Tiowinrr Club and Nelson Athloho and Cycling Club, over both of which bodies he presided. He also was captain of the old Nelson Navals Volunteer Corns for a period. He was an enthusiastic yachtsman, and loved to sail Ims own boat. The Tsis and later the' Mantnna wore two of his vessels. He was ilso quite a notable horseman. At the ago of 15 he, in company with his tutor, AvchHpnoon Paul, lodo'-from Nelson to ChvUtohurch Tjv way r«F Tsir^dale •; »jid in 1576 he rodn from" Blenheim to Nelson, by wav of the Mnungntapu netween 3.30 n.m. and" 2.< M p.m. of. thn panic day In those days Tie was .a very one-time president of tho Tennis Club. s '

Mr Foil waa twice married, ancT is survived, by his widow,, the eldest daughter of tho late Mr A. S. Atkinson. He leave* eight children.. Mrs E C Daubeny and Mrs H. L. Randolph, both of London-Mrs R. B. Humphries' Nolm? 5 ™rsir '^°,i' l' e7ioir- Wellington; Miss Phylhs.Fell London ; Mrs Arthur Bi-ockett, Ghnstchurch; Dr. A. N. Fell, Colchester England (at present witli the Expeditionary Forces at Salonika) ; and-Mr C Rwhiuoad -Fell, Nelson, who .was m partnership with'his father and is carrying on the practice

We understand that the attack "of angina pectoris to which Mr Fell sueumbed on Sunday morning was Preceaed by many similar tliongh less severe attacks, the nature of wiiicK was known both-to his relative, and mecKcal adviser. It was, howeyeiv hoped thnl a^the condition was one of long standing, dating from his trip to the I>wenees, a fatal issue might be long post-

The fnnernl of the lato M™CbSY I'ell, which took place yesterday afteinoon, was largely, attended. The memSt?H-- a number-<* local bodies and institutions wore present in a body- inBoaid of College Governors. Trusteed of School of Music, etc. Messrs T A H. Field andß. P. Hudson MP t and the Mayor of Richmond wore amoag those present, and all the iiE tutions with which Mr Fell had been connected were represented. PersS S ™*«ded all sections of Jl^com■^t 3T,-l ile cinef mournere were Messrs Richmond Fell (son) A R At fanson (brother-in-law), an I fendo Lewo£\f 80n"mw"#- Th° P^-^rors WT?Hv 1" 8!?' % Dunca»< C. J. HarW'Honn- Hamito "> "H- H. Edwards, \y. Houlker, and F. St. John. The Yon AvTV Cc W£ S' by the Yen Archdeacon Kempthorne. A"We number of beautiful wreaths -vero sent by various 'institution and personal friends. As a mark of respect, the College Cadets paraded, and the corifcfVfnir* 1"'01'^ their ranl« at the head of Collingwood street.

Ay the Plunket Society annual meeting in th e evening, the chairman (Mr T. A. H Field M.P.) referred in feeling terms-to Mr Fell as having been ono or the most representative and most respected citizens that Nelson had ever had the misiortune to lose. Mr Pell's life had been spent in the city his interests were bound up in its 'welfare, and he had served the city. well He moved, "That the members of this society express the deepest sympathy with Mrs Fell and family in their sad bereavement, which, is shared By pll tin citizens of Nelson." The audience rose and the motion was carried in silence

.Prior to tlie business Of the Cißy Council being commenced last night, tho- de-puty-Mayor (Cr. Pettit) referred to tho death of Mr C. V Fell, ah ex-Mayor, r h/Yi le .sai^ had ?«'«*.a long and useful lite in Nelson, and served the city i i? 6T,'ft¥ ■ had known Mr Felt for fifty years", and had always Wdhim an energetic'and pubiie^pinted citizen, always approachable and courteous, and always ready to take his part many movement for the pubHe good. He moved that the Council convey its sympathy to Mr Fell's family, and place on record its sense of the irreparable loss the city has sustained by hm aeath. The motion was seconded |by Or. Watson and carried in silence, iXlie councillors standing.