OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17294, 4 November 1921, Page 13

OBITUARY.

LORD SANDHURST. (B7 Cable—Press Association—Copyright.) - (Australian and X.2*. Cabio LONDON, November 2. _ Ihe death is announced of Lord Sandhurst. [Lord Sandhurst, G.C.Y.0., G.C.5.1., G.C.1.E., P.C.; who was tho eldest son of General Lord Sandhurst, tho victor of the Indian Mutiny, was bom on August 21st, 18c>5. He became a lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards in 1873, and three years later succeeded to the title on the death of his father. In 1879 he retired from tho Army, and in the next year became a Lord-in-Waiting to Queen Victoria. In 188ti 110 was Under-ijecretury for War, in Mr Gladstone's short-lived administration, and ho held the same post from 1892 to 1894. As a junior member of the Government, he had few opportunities of showing hu undoubted talents of organisation and method, but he was more completely successful as Governor of Bombay from 1895 to 1899, and as a member of the small committee sent by the Government to South Africa, in 1906 to report on the subject of representative government for South Africa. Lord Sandhurst was a great-grandson of the famous Chief Justice Mansfield. His mother was elected a member of tho first London County Council in 1838, but was disqualified from sitting by the Queen's Bench. Lord Sandhurst married in 1881, the Lady Victoria Alexandrina, daughter of the fourth Earl Spencer. She died in 1903, and in 1909 ho married Eleanor, daughter of Matthew Arnold, and widow of the Hon, Armine Wodenouse. His heir is his brother, the Hon. John W. Mansfield, who was born in 1857-1 MR R. LECKIE. Very general and sincere regret was expressed in civil service and other circles yesterday, on receipt of the news of the death of Mr Robert Leckie, for the past eleven years chief clerk of the Lands and Survey Department in C'bristchurch;, and secretary of the Can-terbury-Land Board, which took place at Rotorua on Tuesday evening. About three weeks ago Mr Leckie's health completely broke down, and, on docorders, he went to Rotorua, Mrs Leckie accompanying him. Tho anticipated improvement in his health did not take place, and about a week ago his friends in Christohurch were made aware of tho seriousness of his condition. Mr Leckie was born in 1860, and when 25 years of age, joined the staff of the Publio Works Department, arid was afterwards private secretary, in succession to three Prime Ministers— Sir Robert Stout, th© late Six Harry Atkinson, and the late Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon■ he was also private secretary to th© late Sir John MoKenzie duting Sir John's term of office as Minister of Lands. Mr Leckie was afterwards appointed to a responsible position in the Lands and Survey Department at Auckland, and held it till transferred to Christchurch eleven years ago. During his service in the Landis Office in Christohurch ho was intimately connected! with the settlement of large numbers of returned soldiers on the land. At a recent meeting of th© executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers' Association eulogistic references were made to hia work 011 behalf o,f ltitumiedl soldier.*, and in recognition of what he had dona ho was elected an honorary lifo member of the Association. Mr Leckie was, throughout his life, a remarkably active man, and right up to the time of his death took a very keen interest in outdoor sports. While in Wellington he was a prami&ent member of th© Star Boating OLub and th© Wellington Cricket Club, and he was aluo. a representative footballer. On his arrival in Christchurch h© first lived at St. Albans, but latterly he had been residing at North Beach. He was president of th*? North Beach Tennis Club, an active member of the Surf Bathing Club, and a very energetio worker in tho raisin# of funds by tho North Beach gala. He leaves a widow and four, children (two Bona, and 1 two daughters) . MR J. F. FREE. . Mr John Frederick Free, who has been in business at Southibridgo for some years as a (butcher and' oaker, died yesterday morning from apoplexy. He arose at an early "hour to proceed with tho day's baking, and some hours later was found lying unconscious in a scullery at th© rear of his houso. Medical assistance was quickly summoned, but small hopes of recovery were entertained, and Mr Free passed away about noon. The late Mr Free, who was 48 ■ years of ago, was widely known as a very gemal man, and was "held in high regard. Ho and his brother, Mr James O. Free, cam© over from tho West Coast some 12 years ago, to take' over th© butchery and bakery .business of Mr W. Hibbard. The late Mr Free is survived by his widow and' several children. MR T. W. WILKINS. Mr Thomas William tVilkins, engineer to the Afciroa County Council and Alcaroa-Wainui Road Board, who was injured in a> mcitor accident at Duva-u----chello on Friday, died in the Akaroa/ Hospital yesterday. The deceased, who was bom on tho Peninsula, and spent all his life there, succeeded his father in tho positions h© occupied at tlhe time of his death. In his younger days he took an active interest in all forms of outdoor sport, and was very popular throughout tli© district. He leaves it widow and family of five young children to mourn their Joss. An inquest into the cause of death, was opened yesterday afternoon and adjourned till the 14th inst.