OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17861, 6 September 1923, Page 13

OBITUARY.

THE LATE MR J. E. WILSON, S.M. Mi-. J. E. Wilson, S.M., who diod at Aufckland on Sunday evening, was engaged in his official duties until about « week before his death. He was seized suddenly by illness, and entered a private hospital,. where he was operated upon last Friday. Complications ensuod, and these proved fatal. Tho late Mr Wilson, who was born at Ashburton, served his legal articles in tho' orifice of Mr J. B. lloy, of New Plymouth, and entered practice on his own account in that town in 1889. He was appointed a magistrate in May, 19IS, and for a timo presided over Mer-cer-Dargaville Court circuit. He was subsequently transferred to Greyniouth, and in November, 1919, wa3 appointed second magistrate in Auckland city. In Aupusfc, IS2O, lie was appointed Chief Judge at Samoa., but, owing to the climatic conditions there being unsuitable to his family, he resigned that position a year later. Ho returned to Auckland ;tnd resumed magisterial duties here in November, 1921. Air Wilson enjoyed the reputation of being an excellent and just magistrate (says the Auckland "Herald"). He was a strong supporter of the first offenders' probation system, and when presiding in the P..lice Court he was always ready to give youthful delinquents a ciianco of retrieving their mistakes and making gocd. He was a man of somewhat reserved demeanour, but those who knew him intimately also found in him a 6taunch and sterling friend. While in New Plymouth, ho was Mayor of tb'at borough ior two years, but he engaged in few other publie or social activities apart from his official duties. In his homo life he was a devoted husband and father, and much sympathy will be felt with his widow and family of six sons and four daughters.

Mr C. H. Pickering, -who died at lV.lir.crci.qn North on Sunday evenins;, was a n at ire of Wiltshire. ami had been in the o.■ t! \i!i 1 '.n about tJiii*tv-six Born at- Ohiyponuain in 1&54, 115 u young man he was apprenticed at fcho \\ oi-cvjstcrsjure engine works, but left the Old Country in 1837. Arrivino- at Oiinstchureli th* same year, he bec-ajne U-ssociaied with the original fi rai of • Um " ■•''•u «strathers, and later was attached to the staff of the. branch or Mho hnn ot W alter A. W.ood and Co. 1-iis commercial connexion with this in in in iuc interests of the farm implements brarich made him mauv friends tlu-ou-hout the length and breadth ol ino Lomuuon. In this respect he did I'am.ible pioneer work for his firm, and later covered a. verj- wide field for tlf New Zealand Li,an an( j Mercantile iLg*,ncy Co. Ltd. and aftenv;i«ls foi tho Intel-national Harvester Co. Find--n" v aj I "*° Poetically every farming community m the Dinmioi (says

tlie Maruiwatu 'Daily Times"), lie not only established successful business records for his firms, but by his gonial maimer and ready wit became both a welcome visitor .in scores of settlements and a boon companion to tl'® commercial men "on the road." With his family he arrived in Pnlmerston North in 1893, invested in property in College street, and, about twelve years j ago, retiied from business life and pur- • sued bis favourite hobbies —dogs and , fowls. In the breeding of these he was eminently successful, his success being> ; at times, prominent features of the shows in each of. the bid centres of New Zealand. Tlie late Mr Pickering is survived by bis widow, hits two sons, Mr C. S. Pickering and Mr J. H. Pickering, of Palmerston North, and his only daughter, Mrs G. F. Allen, of ; Sumner. The death occurred in Levin on Saturday of Mr Ernest Harper, ot Oliau, at the early age of 39. Ho had been a sufferer for many months as a result of a constitution undermined by hardships suffered during his two years' war service. The late ]>U' Harper was a member of a family which came originally from Canterbury, but which had been settled for the pas't 20 years at Foxton, (says the "Chronicle"). After returning from the war he and his two brothers took up land at Buller's Lake. News of his death will be heard with regret by his neighbours and friends in the district, deceased being held in wide esteem for his many good qualities. The famijv had a verv creditable war record, no fewer than six brothers going to the front and five returning.