OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 27 March 1922, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MR. R. J. HARTLEY. Mr. Richard John Hartley, a well known and higli-respected resident of Auckland, was admitted to the Auckland Hospital at 4.:>0 o'clock on Saturday morning, and diod there during the day. Mr. Hartley retired from the Auckland stall of the Union Steamship Co.'on Wednesday last, after a period of service extending over 43 years, 25 of which were spent in Auckland. He was for many years a steward on the company's boats, and was chief steward on , the Mararoa when she was the largest steamer owned by the company, and was then in the inter-colonial service. Almost 25 years ago he became an officer on the Ehore staff, and at the time of his retirement was superintending providore. ilr. Hartley, would have been 05 years of age next Wednesday had he lived, and both in his official and his private life he was a most popular man, highly esteemed for his sense of justice and his uprightness of character. Last Wednesday, on the occasion of his retirement, Ilr. Hartley was the recipient of a handsome presentation from his employers and the staff of wJiieh. lie was -RO-p©piiJ.ar-ia member. He is survived by his widow, one son and one daughter, and resided for many years at Devoriport, but a s few years ago lie purchased a residence a.t Greenlane. He had just arranged to let Ms house and to dispose of his furniture in order to go to Rotorua to take up the position of manager of the Grand Hotel there. MR. MARTIN HARSANT. At the age of 84 there died on March 23 Mr. Martin Harsant, an old resident of Raglan East. He was the eldest cor. of the late Dr. Harsant, of Onehunga and Raglan. Born at Carston, Norwich, England, Mr. Harsant came to New Zealand with his parents when a youth 16 years of age. Dr. Harsant was appointed resident magistrate at Te Awamntu. When the war broke oift he was transferred to Raglan. Mr. Martin Hareant was farming in that district the ,rest of his life. In the early days he .carried the mails and took the census in Waikato and up to Taupo at a time when for lack of loads and bridges travelling was not an easy matter. Deceased is survived by his wife,, a son (Mr. R. Harsant), and a daughter (Mrs. !V. E. Pegler, of Raglan).

MR. THOMAS LEES. — long resident of Auckland, Mr. Thomas Lees, died at his residence, Orakei Road, Remuera, on March 22, in lis eighty-third year. Deceased was the senior partner of the firm of Thomas Lees and Sons, and was born in Worcestershire in 1539. He was brought up to the gunsmith's trade in Birmingham. After a few months' experience in Canada he arrived in Auckland by the ship John Duncan in 1865. Mr. Lees was engaged storekeeping in Auckland for a time and afterwards in the Waikato for two years. In 1870 he took up his'residence in the Wade district, where he had a farm of 29(k acres a few miles from the township, and cultivated it for eighteen years, giving special attention to fruitgrowing. During his residence at Wade he started his sons in business in Anckland, and has been the senior partMr. in the kauri gum business which is one of the oldest kauri gum firms now in business in this city. In 1903 Mr. I*es took up residence in Auckland, and has resided in Remuera, having retired from active work to enjoy a well-earned rest. Of ten children, he is survived by four daughters and two sons, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife predeceased him nine years ago.