OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 10

OBITUARY.

CANON HARRY MASON. WELL KNOWN DIVINER. The well-known vicar of All Saints' Church, HoWick, Canon Harry Mason, died yesterday, aged 62 years. He had been in failing health, and for that reason was recently granted six months' leave of absence from his parochial duties. Born in Staffordshire, England, Mr. Mason, on arrival in New Zealand in 1594, entered the teaching profession. He then studied for the ministry, and was ordained at Bishopscourt Chapel, Auckland, in 1896. He was afterwards appointed curate at Okato, Taranaki. and three years later became vicar of that charge. He was next vicar at Hirntly for four years, and then for 20 years was vicar of Otahuhu, and in 1925 he accepted the position of vicar of All Saints' Church, Howick. He was appointed a canon of St. Mary s Cathedral, Auckland in 1923, and was for many years chaplain to St. Mary s Home, Otahuhu.

Mr. Mason had a knowledge of surgery, and his assistance was frequently souglit when he was in the Okato district. He was very successful as a water diviner, and it was he who pointed 01M the position to bore at Helensville to get a large supply of the healing waters. On one occasion when in Wellington he found a supply "of water for a Roman Catholic orphanage. The position he pointed out was considered unlikely hv the contractor, but the nuns had faith, and asked that the work be proceeded with, and the supply was duly obtained. Many farmers in the Auckland district who put down bores in positions pointed out by Mr. Mason now have good supplies of water. Canon Mason devoted much time to the restoration of the church at Howick. He also collected a lot of data regarding early church history in Auckland for the records of the diocese. Mrs. Mason survives her husband, and there is one son, who is farming at Wliitford.