AN OLD ARCTIC EXPLORER

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 82, 4 April 1912, Page 2

AN OLD ARCTIC EXPLORER

DIES ON BOWLING GREEN.

Mr. Adam Ayles, caretaker,' of. the Rocky Nook Bowfing Club, dropped dead this morning while at work on the green The deceased was well on towards 70 years of age, and. was one of the heroes of the Arctic expedition under Nares and. Stephenson in the early seventies. The term hero is used advisedly, for when,a" boat's crew was down with the scurvy it was Adam Ayles who travelled over lp? miles across the ice to take them TBlief. Being one of the only two total-abstainers on the expedition, the deceased's name affor.ed opportunity for the wit of the ''London Punch," the question being j asked if it were adhering to "Adam's ADe" that enable him to carry assistance to the boat's.crew Strjekenuwlth'scurvy.: The deceased was a chief petty officer in the British navy, and in receipt of a pen-. sion. At one time he-was in charge of Ponsonby bowling green, but afterwards went to Rocky Nook,. Mr. Aylas wasa single man, and a native of England. He was a .prominent .member of; the' Masonic fraternity, being past master of a lodge in the Wairarapa, and also a member of the Royal Arch Pre—rptory. When be came to reside in "Auck--I'and he affiliated with Lodge United j Service, and became Director of Ceremonies, aa well as p;e»*ptory instructor. He was a man with many friends, being of a genial nature. When Rear Admiral Beaumont was in. Auckland he had an interview with Mr. Ayles,'and was much interested in the old Arctic explorer. • Mr. Ales went to work as usual this morning, and started cutting the green. At about 9.30 a.m. he was found lying on his back beside, the mowing machine, with a slight, cut above the nose and breathing heavily. Dr. Tewsley Was immediately called, but life was extinct in the ailing man before the doctor arrived, a few minutes later. An inquest was >ield this afternoon in the' Criterion Hotel before Mr. Thos. Gresham, City Coroner.