DEATH OF THE REV. W. J. HABENS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1899, Page 2

DEATH OF THE REV. W. J. HABENS.

A Press Association telegram froia Wellington reports the death of the : Rev. W. J. Habens, secretary to the' Education Department. Mr Habens died last night. He had been ailing < for some time, and had a secotid attack of paralysis. The late Key. Wra. James Habens, 8.A., was secretary for Education #0$ Inspector General of schools for the colony of New Zealand, and was about 'C. $0 years of age at the time of his death, and. had been a resident of this colony for 35 years. He f&. born, at Brighton in 1539, and i#as educated in that town and at Hacjfc'V ney College, London. In 1862 .ie graduated at the London university, and" in January, 1864, he landed in Nc^ Zealand from England, coming ouf'to ?' the ship Canterbury to Lyttelton,He was minister of Trinity Chujc«>;i Christchurch, till July, 1878. roffl ■ Jan., 1877, to May, 1878, he was^fc* retary to the Canterbury Board^f Education, and in April, 1878, he-wp appointed Inspector Genera,? i^fflp New Zealand Educational Deparijnenfc In 1879 and 1880 he was a member <* the Royal Commission to enquire inf° the operations of the New Zealand University and its relations to W?1 secondary schools. He also acted af secretary to the Commission and vvas appointed a fellow of the NeW^V land University. Since 1886 he m performed the 'duties of secretary «* | Education in addition to those ot in-spector-General. Mr Habens was &*?' ried in 1863 to Annie Mellish, ter of the late Mr Thomas Hellish, Pi Brighton, England.