OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17691, 17 February 1923, Page 11

OBITUARY.

Our London correspondent writes: — There are many people in New Zealand who will learn with regret of the death, in a nursing home at Newark, of Major Ernest W. A Carter, city surveyor of Gloucester, eldest son of the late Mr Bevis W. Carter, of Invercargil). Major Carter, whose age was 49, had been ill for five months. After having served his time with the late Mr J. Fletcher Trew, architect and civil engineer, in Gloucester, he joined the staff of Messrs Waller and Son, tha diocesan architects and surveyors, and later he was fcr a time in private practice. Mr Carter entered the office of tlie city surveyor, Mr Richard Read, in 18S5, and in the course of time became deputy city surveyor. When, at tlie end of June, 1916, Mr Read resigned his position, Jtfr Carter, by unanimous vote of the City Council, succeeded him as city suivcyor and waterworks engineer. In 191(3 he was released temporarily from his duties under the Corporation to undertake war work, he having been selected by General Maybury, tlie Director of Roads, to be a deputy-assistant director of roads in France, with the rank of captain in the Royal Engineers. Within six months of his appointment he obtained his majority, and for a. time acted as deputy-director of roads. His work in constructing a siding and moving 8000 tons of material in a week was stated at a meeting of the Liverpool Architectural Association to hn-vo been tlie smartest job of the kind executed during the war. He was given the Order or the British Empire, was mentioned in despatches on two oc-ca-ions lor meritorious services, and was also the recipient of the Croix do Guerre. Mr Carter was a member of the institution of Municipal and County Eng'ncers, and was twice president of the Gioticestors are Eng:n.er:ng Society, a position he held at the tima of his death. MR JAMES HURSE. Mr James HiSrse, who died at Sumner on Thursday, aged So years, was born at Uphill, Somersetshire, and as a young man emigrated to Australia. Station life not being to his liking, he joined the Mounted Polios Force in Victoria, and was among the party which tracked the Kelly gang to Glen Rowan. Prior to coming tn Canterbury in the early 'sixties with Commissioner It. C. Shearman and Inspector It. C. Ponder he was engaged ior a year in purchasing cavalry romounts for India. In ISG2 he was stationed at Kaiapoi with the rank of sergeant, and was instrumental in checking numbers of undesirables from Australia, attracted by the gold rush, from reaching the West Coast. He also caught a bushranger named Duke sinj.le-h.nded. Duko, who was wanted in Australia, had, it was alleged, sinister intentions on Glenniark station. In April, ISGB, there came a very trying time for the police in tho northern district owing to an outbreak of pleuro-pneumcmia. The Kaiapoi native reserve, of over 20C0 acres, was then a commonage, on which grew luxuriant white clover as well as native grasses, and s.ores of cattle were grazed thereon. Prices were good for beef, on the West Coast goldfields. But the outbreak of disease caused the issue of a proclamation prohibiting the removal of and the Maori reserve was declared 4X qtiaraartine ground. Mr Hurse and a patrol of six constables had to prevent infected cattle from escaping. Mr Hurse, with Mr. Thos. Hall, M.R.C.S., were appointed inspectors, and in dealing with the cattleowners had anything but a pleasant j time. Ultimately, the Government fenced the reserve, and the police were relieved. In the following November tho embargo was removed. Shortly after this Mr Hurse married Miss Agnes Howard, eldest daughter of Mr Smith Howard, of Rangiora. He assisted at the early shows of the Northern Agricultural Society, and became identified with many of the local institutions. At one period he was a. member* of the Waimakariri Harbour Board. On verv favourable terms he paited 1 with a valuable town property to the Kaiapoi . Football Club, which is known now as The Park. He was a good judge of horses, cattle, and sheep,