OBITUARY

Press, Volume L, Issue 14884, 26 January 1914, Page 7

OBITUARY

COLONEL WILLIAM ALEXANDER DAY.

Widespread regret will be felt at tho death of Colonel William Alexander Day, who died on Saturday afternoon, after a very paiuful illness extending over several years. Colonel Day was ■widely known, especially through his connexion -with the Anglican Church, and his prominei.ee in defence matters, and ho was greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends. A devout Christian, ho had been intimately connected for very many years with St. Luke's Anglican Church 3 and laboured indefatigably for the advancement of its work. Colonel Day was vicar's churchwarden in the parish for many years. When St. Luke's Church was rebuilt soiuo four o- five years he worked very hard to raise tho money, and the present beautiful church may be regarded partly as a monument to his untiring zeal and energy in tho great effort which resulted in the erection of the building and its opening free of debt. As a business man tho lato Colonel Day was justly esteemed in commercial circles for his ability and uprightness of character. But it was in connexion with military matters that he wns «est known. lie had been connected with tho Volunteer movement for many years until it was superseded by the present Territorial scheme after the passing of tho Defence Act. The. late Colonel l>ay was born in Lyttelton in 1861, and was a son of the late Mr William Day, a member of the firm of Heywood, Day, and Tippett, merchants, ot Lyttelton. Iho firm later became Heywood and Day, and subsequently merged into the carrying and forwarding business of J. M. Heywood and Co. Colonel Day was educated at Christ's College, and his business career started in the employ of the Permanent Investment and Loan Associatim. Later, he went for a trip to England, and on his return he joined the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company in charge of one of that firm's departments in Wellingtja. Seme time later ho removed to Christchurch, and became manager of the produce department of tbp New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, in which position ho remained until he started business on his own account as a grain and produce merchant under the style of W. A. Dny and Co. Special interest attaches to his military career, extending over a period of thirty years. He took a very keen interest in defence matters, and was one of the best known officers of the old Volunteer forces. Hβ was one of tho first members of the Christ's College Rifles, which was founded on January Ist, 1883. Colonel Day enrolled in tho company as a private- on January 17th, 1883, and very soon was promoted to the rank of coriporal. On May 24th, 1884, he was advanced to the rank of sergeant, and j on January 14th, 1886, ho became acting-lieutenant. Jtlo got his full commission as lieutenant on March sth, j 1886, and was promoted to the rank of ! captain on October 26th, 2893. On Juno 10th, 1897, he was promoted to I the rank of major on the Staff of the Ist Battalion of the North Canterbury Rifles, under the late LieutenantColonel Francis. The latter died from enteric fever contracted in the South African War on March 31st, 1901, and Major Day was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on August Ist, 1901, when he took command of the North Canterbury Infantry Battalion of Volunteers. Later ho recoived the Volunteer Order, and on resigning on March 20th, 1907, he passed to the Reserve of Officers. Shortly after the institution of the Territorial Forces under the Defence Act of 1909, Colonel Day took command of the Canterbury Infantry Brigade, his appointment dating 'from March 17th, lull. Hβ was also appointed an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency the Governor. His long illness had incapacitated him from active service, and 6ome time ago his duties were delegated to Lieut.-Colonel G. J. Smith. His death will be deeply regretted by all interested in the Territorial Defence scheme, in which he had evinced a very keen interest, and by all ex-volunteers, who will mourn the loss of a true Chris-, tian soldier. Colonel Day married Miss Rose Denham, a daughter of Mr E. Dsnham, of Sumner. Hβ leaves a widow and two childrgn.'' The funeral, which is to be a military one, will take place this afternoon. It will leave his residence at 3 p.m. for St. Luke's, and thence to Linwood cemetery. The First Canterbury Regiment will form tho escort, and the firing party will bo composed of the A and B Companies, of which Colonel Day was one of tho founders. The A and B Companies will parado at King Edward Barracks at 1.30 p.m. Battalion orders appear elsewhere. I Owing to the Staff tour which is now being held at Cambridge, General Godley' and members of the Headquarters Staff will not bo able to reach Christchurch in timo to bo present at the funeral this afternoon. General Godley. however, will be represented by Colonel Slater, Colonel Smythe by Captain Moddings, Colonel Chaffey by Captain Bell, Lieut.-Colonel Smith by Captain Burn, and Lieut.-Colonel Grace by Major Beattie. The members of the Veterans' Association will meet at 279 Kilmore street, at 2.15 p.m., to attend the funeral. SIR DAVID GILL. (By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received January 25th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 24. Sir David Gill, tho astronomer, is dead. MR D. O^CONNOR. SYDNEY, January 24. The death is announced of Mr Darnel O'Connor, at one time Post-master-General of New South. Wales. MR AI.BERT~PENWELL. Much regret was expressed in the Waiau district on Friday when it was known that Mr Albert Penwell had died that day. Mr Penwell, who was 38 years of age," took a prominent part in public affairs in the district. He was an energetic member of the Amuri A. and P. Association and the Waiau Railway League, and gave his enthusiastic eupport to all sporting institutions. He was also activo in Church affairs, and a member of the Library Committee.