OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17986, 1 February 1924, Page 12

OBITUARY.

MR E. G. BAXTER. The death occurred yesterday at Lyudhurst Private Hospital, Bealey avenue, of Mr Robert Gilbert Baxter, of Sumner. The late Mr Baxter was born in Melbourne on April 29th, 1861, and arrived in Dunedin with his parents the following year. He the Boys' High School, Dunedin, and went to Waimate when 14 years of age and entered the surveying profession with Mr Stewart, surveyor. He served his time for four years, subsequently qualifying at the age of 21. When 19 years of age, Mr Baxter took the position of town clerk to tho Waimate Borough Council, which he occupied till 1899. He then practised as a surveyor till 1907, when he purchased Traquair station, Qtago, and remained there for four years. In March, 1912, Mr Baxter went for a trip to Canada and Europe, his wife accompanying him to Canada, which was her nativo country. Returning to New Zealand in 1913, he settled in Dunedin. He left there in 1915, and during the war he devoted his time chiefly to war work, including honorary services in connexion with tho Wellington Hospital, his eldest son having been appointed to the staff after graduation in medicine at Dunedin. His younger son, who left with the Main Body at the age of 21, was killed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, in August of 1915. In 1916 Mr Baxter came to Christchurch and lived at Redcliffs, Papanui, and Sumner, where he made many friends. He was popular and highly-respected for his publicspirited nature. In Waimate he was Past Master in St. Augustine's Masonic Lodge. Recently Mr Baxter underwent an operation, which was entirely successful, and from which he had made an excellent recovery. His death was unexpected, and waa due to heart failure during preparations for his return to Sumner. He. leaves a widow and one son, Dr. Baxter, who, as Major Baxter, was on the staff of St. Mary's Hospital, Hanmer, during the military regime, and who is now at St. George's Hospital, London, for the purpose of gaining further professional experience. The widow is a sister of Mr Alpheus Hayes, who was a prominent public man in the South Canterbury district. The interment will take place at Waimate to-morrow. INSPECTOR, DEW. (yIiESS ASSOCIATION NAPIER, January 3L Tho death is announced of Police- i Inspector Samuel Joseph Dew, aged 64 years. Deceased entered tho Polico Force in ISS4, and waa stationed at Blenheim, Cpllingwood, and Stratford. On being promoted to sergeant he served in Auckland, Dunedin, Reefton, Westport, and Wellington. In | 1917 he was promoted to Sub-Inspeetar : at Gisborne, and in 1921 was made In-:! spector at Christchurcli, and later at Invercargill, coming to Napier in October, 1922. Ho is survived by a widow and two sons.