DEATH OF MR. E. V. MILLER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 52, 3 March 1930, Page 9

DEATH OF MR. E. V. MILLER.

• DIED ON HIS YACHT

A MAN OF MANY PARTS

A sad end to the week-end cruise of the well-known yacht Moan a was the death on board of the owner, Mr. E. V. Miller, of Upland Road, Remuera. Haying been a keen yachtsman for 40 of his 70 vears of life, it was a rather singular coincidence that he should end his days on the water, where he had spent so many happy days. The yacht went to Kawau on Saturday. Mr. Miller became ill after the yacht left yesterday on the return passage to town, and, continuing to grow worse, he passed away just before the harbour was reached.*

Mr. Miller came from the Old Country in 1885 as manager of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company's works at Chelsea, and he held that position until he retired ten years ago. He was a man of rare intellectual equipment and variety of interests. ■ He was keenly interested in scientific subjects, and often read papers before the Auckland Institute; of which he was a valued member. He was a prominent- member of the local Psychological and Philosophical Association, and contributed ' valuable, articles to the "Journal" of the parent Australian society. He was working on a book dealing with the problems of Mechanism and kindred scientific topics. Mr. Miller was also an enthusiastic student of music, and both played and composed.

Mr. Miller leaves a grown-up family of one son (Mr. Alfred Miller, of Auckland), four married daughters and two unmarried. One of the daughters left last week on a visit to the Old Countrv.

The late Mr. Miller was one of the oldest members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, his election dating back to the earliest records of the club in 1891, when it was known as the Auckland Yacht Club. Although several times pressed to accept flag office, Mr. Miller always declined, but he served for a long time on the committee of the R.N.Z.Y.S., and be was one of the trustees up till last year, when he resigned. Mr. Miller was generally recognised as the keenest yachtsman in the squadron for ocean racing, and he never missed a cruising race or ocean race since they became popular. About five years ago his well-known yacht Moana was the only boat to finish in a race round Canoe Rock, off Kawau. round an island off Coromandel and back to Matiatia. It was sailer! in a north-east gale, and all retired but Moana. She carried away her mainsail off Tifitiri, jbut a trysail which Mr. Miller always carried for an emergency was set and the race continued. Moana finishing just after daybreak With her owner at the helm throughout. Moana was a competitor in the ocean races to Tauranga or to Russell since they were inaugurated in 1921, and' her record shows she has won a very large number of prizes. Before buying Moana, Mr. Miller owned the Constance, in which he cruised for many years. It was his invariable rule otsail the yacht himself in all races.' His keen judgment and ability at the helm was well known to all in yachting circles, and he will be greatly missed.