OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR. J. S. COLHOUN. l-ORMER HEADMASTER. A former headmaster of Ngaurawahia School. Mr. John Smith Colhoun. died in the Waikato Hospital yetserday, aged ">0 years. His parents lived at Tararn, Thames. Mr. Colhoun was for a couple of years a pupil teacher at Tauranga and Onehuii{ra. then spent twelve months in the Training College. His fir>t school was at the upper mill settlement. Mercury Bay. Later he was at Kaiwaka, Pukekaroro. Rangiriri and Churchill in charge of half-time schools. He was next for 14 years headmaster at Ohaupo. tlien went to Otorohauga for twelve months and in 1919 was appointed headmaster at Ngaruawahia. from which he retired at the end of 1927 after 43 years' service. Mr. Colhoun was a cricketer and footballer in his younger days, and a sergeant in the Waikato No. 1 Mounted Rifles. At Xgaruawahia he was captain of the Senior Cadet Company. Mr. Colhoun was accorded a Masonic funeral to-day, he being a Past Master of Lodge Beat, Waikato. Hamilton, also Past Grand Superintendent of Works of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Mrs. Colhoun survives her husband. There are two sons and four daughters.

MR. GEORGE COOMER,

FORMER MINE MANAGER. A well known old resident of Thames. Mr. George Coomer, died suddenly on July 23, at the residence of his laughter. Mrs. Newdick, of Dominion Road. Mr. W. Coomer of the staff of Milne and C'hoyce, is a son of deceased. Mr. George Coomer was 74 years of age. and like his father, had been a manager of mines at Thames for years. The interment took place this afternoon at Waikaraka Cemetery.

MR. JOHN COPLAND WHITE

Mr. John Copland White, who died at his residence at S9, Clonbern Road. Remuera, yesterday, was born at Arbroath. Scotland, and came to New Zealand in the ship Belgravia in ]Sf»s. He took up land at Waitakere. and later went to farm at Taranaki, where he lived for 40 years. H<> has lived in retirement in Auckland for the past 14 years. He leaves a wife and four sons. Mr. Archibald White, of Waiuku; Mr. •Tames White, of Papatoetoe; Mr. Edmund White. Putaruru: and Mr. John VNhite. ellington. The late Mr. John Copland White was 82 years of age.

MR. ALEXANDER BELL.

The death of Mr. Alexander Bell, a pioneer farmer of the Rangitikei and W aikato districts, occurred at his residence at Remuera yc-terday. at the ape of S4. Mr. Bell, who was born in Linlithp'ow-rtiro. Scotland, came to New Zealand when about 20 years of ajc. He arrived at Dnnedin and immediately went to the sroldiiold<s. but shifted later to Bancritikei. where he took ;ip farming. In IS6S he war; married to Miss •In:: Mins. Mr. Bell took up a block of land at Halcombe, milled the timber and brought the land into pasture. He purchased another block at Ohingaiti, where he niilied the bush and laid out the present township. In 1593 Mr. Bell visited England and during tr.e two years following opened 111 retail shops in Scotland for the celling of New Zealand mutton. Having sold the business he returned to the Dominion and settled in the Waikato district. In 1917 he sold the Mangateparu estate of •1000 acres to the Government for soldier settlers. Up to the time of his death he was supervising farms at Pokeno. Te Puke and Ileleiisx ille. Mr. Bell was married a second time to Miss A. J. 1i h in. of New South Wales, who survives aim. He is also •survived by the following children: — Mrs. G. Cornfoot and Mrs. J. \\ . laylor, of Hamilton: Mr-. G. L. Laird, of Auckland: Mrs. X. J. Crabbc. of larauaki: Mr. David Bell, of leilding. and Mr. William Bel!, <>;' Auckland.