OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16550, 16 June 1919, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR WEEDON GROSSMITH

(Received June 15th, 11.5 p.m.)

LONDON, June 14. The death is announced of Mr Weedon Grossmith, the actor and author.

[The late Mr Wecdon Grossmith wai the son of the late Mr Geo. Grossmith lecturer and journalist, and was edu cated at Simpson's School, Hampstoad Slade Snhoolj London University, ant Royal Academy Schools. His firs: picture, a portrait of his father, wai exhibited many times at the Roy.i Academy and Grosvenor Gallery It was as "Specklebury" :i "Time Will Toll," that he made hi; first appearance on the stage, at tht Prince of Wales Thoatro, in Liverpool in 1835. He appeared in the same plaj in New York in the same year, anc two years later made his dobut befort a London audience at the Gaiety. Ir 1894 he took over the management ol Terry's Theatre, and during the nexi few years was successively lessee of th< Vaudeville and Avenue Theatres. Be' sides managing, he also took leading parts in many plays, including "Mo Haggis,'' "The Noble Lord," "Tht I>uke of Killiecrankie," "The Worm," and "Sir Anthony." He went tc Canada and the United States in 1910 ; and next year gave a oommand performance at Drury Lano. With Miss Marie Tempest, he revived "The I>ukt of Killiecrankie" in 1914 at the Playhouse. Besides being an artist and an actor, the late Mr Weedon Grossmith was also an author and playwright. In collaboration with Mr George Grossmith ho wrote "The Wary of a Nobody," and was a contributor to "Punch'' and the "Art Journal." His plays are: "The Commission," "The Night of the Party,'' "The Cure," "The Duffer,' "The Mystery of Redwood Grange,'' and "Billy's Bargain." He was married in 1895 to May, youngest daughter of the late Dr James Palfrey, and. had one daughter.] Our Dunedin correspondent , tele- ' graphs that Mr G. B. Laidlaw died on Friday as the result of an abdominal trouble. He was a cheery and optimistic musician, full of energy; a singularly clever cornet player, with a practical knowledge of instrument making and repairing, and possessed rare gifts as a conductor. Prior to coming to New Zealand he conducted the Rothesay band in Scotland. His first opportunity in I>unedin came when he was appointed to suoceed Mr E. Straton as conductor of the Kaikorai Band. Under his direction this band attained high proficiency. He was conductor of the Dunedin Orphans' Orchestra for a long time. He was manager of the London Organ and Piano Company. Mr Henry Fretwell, whose death occurred at* Invercargill last week, was one of the oldest members of the Ivew Zealand Police Force. Ho was born at Norfolk, England, 66 years ago, andi came to New Zealand about 45 years ago, after having served for threa years in the English polico. He immediately joined the New Zealand Force, and was stationed consecutively at Invercargill, Lowther, Bluff, Mataura, Wyrdham, Gore, OTepuki. Dunedin, and Christchurch. He resigned his position at Christchurch some 12- years ago, and returned to Invercargill, where ne resided up to the time of his death.

Mr Isaac Walker, who died at Nelson last week, was one of the pioneer settlers of the district. Born at Keswick, Cumberland, in 1835, the deceased came out to New Zealand in the ship Thomas Harrison, arriving in Nelson in 1842. He went to Puramahoi, in the Takaka district, where he was engaged in farming operations until about six vears ago, when he took up his residence in Nelson.