PIONEER VICAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1932, Page 8

PIONEER VICAR.

BURIAL OF REV. J.'H. HAWKES,

The funeral of the late Rev. J.- H. Hawkes, M.A., with first-class honours in Bible History, T.C.D., took place today, a service being held at St. Aidan's a.%11 a.m., at which the Archbishop, the vicar, and an old friend, the Rev. H. Jecks, officiated, the cortege proceeding to the Purewa Cemetery.

Born in the city of Cork, South Ireland,_ the Rev. Mr. Hawkes was in hie ninetieth year when he passed quietly away in his sleep after an attack of bronchitis. Ordained to the priesthood in old St. Paul's by the former Primate, Bishop Cowie, he was appointed to the charge of the oldest church in New Zealand, that of Russell, Bay of Islands, and his parish extended to Hokianga. He did the work of a mis : sionary over that stretch of ■partly forest land, and with the only means then of travelling—his faithful" horsedid yeoman service to the scattered people in the north, holding services wherever possible and attending the sick, many a time nearly losing his life through the dangers of bad roads and lushing streams. He left there with his family to reside in Whangarei, where he had received the appointment to the Whangarei High School, . still carrying out' the duties of a clergyman all over the surrounding districts gratis, and so winning the hearts of the people that., they petitioned the bishop to appoint him their vicar. He collected money and had the present Kamo Church built, one of several others in the Far North that owe their erection to his labours—and so became the first ricar of Kamo.

During his ministry he rode some 70,000 odd miles and in his old age felt the effects of his strenuous journeys in the saddle. Retiring about 24 years ago, he came to Auckland, residing at Shelly Beach. There he constantly assisted the vicar of All Saints' and also did much service at Mount Albert, Avondale and Henderson.

Mr. Hawkes' first wife passed away at Ponsonby, and after marrying again 10 years ago he came to live at Orakei Road, Remuera, where, as long as he was able, he assisted the vicar of St. Aidan's. He was a great, student of prophecy and church history, and many have benefited by his knowledge. Up to the last he received young Sunday school teachers for instruction, and died in the full possession of his faculties,, except that his power >of walking was very limited. He leaves a wife and grown-up family and countless friends to mourn their loss.