OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 221, 26 September 1938, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR. J. P. STAN. TR\NSPORT BOARD EMPLOYEE. An esteemed and. popular officer of the Auckland Transport Board, Mr. James Patrick Ryan, has died. He £t"as superintendent of the overhead department and had been in the employ of the board for 36 years. Mr. Ryan was always prominent in social and sick activities, and was past president of the Sick and Accident Club. Mr. Ryan was born at Greymouth, but spent moet of his earlier li/e at Coromandel. When he came to Auckland he joined the Auckland Electric Tramway Company. Mr. Ryan is survived by his wife, two eons and four daughters. I *MR. JAMES A. CAMPBELL. DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. The Department of Agriculture and the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture has suffered a distinct lose by the death of Mr. James Angus Campbell, Director of the Horticultural Division of the Department, who collapsed and died on Saturday night while attending a Masonic* lodge gathering at Island Bay. He was aged 64. Mr. Campbell was a native of Victoria, Australia. He arrived in New Zealand 41 years ago. Among his many achievements was the laying out of the grounds of the Christchurch Exhibition. Hβ joined the Department in 1908. Later he was appointed orchard instructor at Hamilton and then at Hastings. In 1915 he was appointed assistant director. Mr. Campbell in 19 Id paid an extended visit to the United States in the intereste of his Department and shortly after hie return Mr. Kirk retired and Mr. Campbell was appointed director. During Mr. Campbell's term of office, the fruit export trade of the Dominion has been created and has grown to main importance. In association with the late Mr. G. A. fiKen, Mr. Campbell assisted in the organisation of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. MR. ROBERT SHEPARD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. Less than a month after his appointment to the position of manager in New Zealand for J. C. Williamson Theatres, Mr. Robert Shepard died in Wellington late on Saturday night. He was one of the best-known and most experienced men in Australian and New Zealand theatrical circles. Before taking over hie new position Mr. Shepard was New Zealand manager for the J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation. The new appointment, however, was distinct from the picture world and coincided with the beginning of a new era for the legitimate stage in New Zealand. He succeeded to the position held by the late Mr. Bert Royle, and was born in Dunedin in 1878. *His first connection with the theatre was about 135 years ago. Mr. Shepard was one of the first to be associated with moving pictures in this country, and his initial venture was to secure moving pictures of the SpanishAr.eripan war. including the sinking of the Maine. He has been associated with practically every phase of the picture industry in New Zealand and Australia. Mr. Shepard joined J. C. Williamson. Limited, after that firm had taken over the Musp-rove theatres, and hri.ughl several companies of vaudeville celebrity stars to this country, inclnl : i.<: Bianshy Williams. Lung Tack Sam Bert Halftone J Savoy Havana Band. Harry V.'eldon, \V*p«> (ieovdie Wood and H"ttie King. When such att tart inns were sent to the , Williamson picture houses, then being conducted with Mr. Beaumont Smith ae director. Vγ. Shepard went over to the J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation in New Zealand, with which he h»d beat associated for, the laet 11 jtmn.