OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20909, 17 July 1933, Page 10

OBITUARY.

THE REV. FRANK RULE. For 22 years .superintendent of ihe Presbyterian Social Service Association in Christchurch and a minister of the Presbyterian Church for 37 years, the Rev. Frank Rule, who retired from his position as superintendent in November, 1930, died in the Christchurch Hospital yesterday. Mr Rule was 70 years old. Born in Scotland, Mr Rule came out to Australia in 1883. He worked for some years there as an officer of the Salvation Army, and in 1894 came to New Zealand, where he joined the Presbyterian Church. After carrying out itinerant work in the North Island for some time, Mr Rule was appointed to his first charge, Ormond, in November, 1894. He stayed there only a short period, being transferred to Paeroa. then to Mount Eden, Auckland, then to Maungaweka, and finally to Patea, where he remained for five years.

Work in Christchurch. The great work of Mr Rule's life began in 1909, when the Presbyterian Social Service Association of Christchurch was founded. He was invited to take charge of the work, and after spending a month in Dunedin studying the work that was being done there-, he accepted the offer in February. 1909, The first seven years of Mr Rule's work in Christchurch was taken up chiefy by his labours in the Juvenile Courts. A( the end of that time the work had grown so considerably that he stood aside in favour of a government nominee. In 1917 he was appointed part-lime probation officer under the Probation Act. 1908, and spent II years in that position, but again the work increased so greatly that a fuil-tinie government oiliccr waappointed. The principal work of Mr Rule's life in Christchurch, however, was the establishment of the Presbyterian orphanages of the city. As early as .1911 the committee of the association released him to travel through North Canterbury and Marlborough to raise money for a children's home, and in a month the sum of £IOOO was collected. Since that time four homes have been opened, largely through Mr Rule's efforts and their destinies until his retirement, were always in his hands. To the time of his death many of the boys and girls whom he had watched over and trained used to write to him and go to him for advice and counsel. Mr Rule retired in November, 1930, three years later than the customarv retiring age. Until his death he lived in the city, with the exception of a period last year when he travelled to the United .States to visit two of his sons who are working ancl studying there.

Mrs Rule survives her husband, as do five of their seven children, two of whom were killed in the war. There are four distinguished sons living, the Rev. Victor Rule, a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg, United Slates, Professor Andrew Rule, at present studying at the Presbyterian Seminary in Pittsburg. Dr. J. Rule, of the Waikato, and Mr Robert Rule, superintendent of the Margaret Watt Home. Wanganui. The one daughter is Mrs White, of Auckland.

"A Loss to the Church." "He was in large measure responsible for the splendid buildings and properties the church now owns in Christchurch," said the Moderator (the Rev. L. McMasler), when paying a tribute to Mr Rule. "He was a very gifted speaker and a very practicalminded man, with a very big heart. His death is a great loss to the Presbyterian Church."

MR D. E. THEOMIN. [THE PEES 3 Special Service.] DUNEDIN, July 15. The death occurred to-day of Mr D.. E. Theomin, one of the best-known citizens of Duncdin, aged SI. Mr Theomin, a son of the Rev. J. B. Theomin, was born at Bristol in 1852. He was educated at the Bristol Grammar School and arrived in Melbourne in 1874. Five years later he married Marie, daughter of Mr M. Michaelis, of Melbourne, and in the same year Mr Theomin arrived in Dunedin. From that time he became associated with the business life of the city, and for a long period had been recognised as one of its commercial leaders. He founded the Dresden Piano Company, now known throughout the Dominion with branches in the five chief cities as the Bristol Piano Company, in 1884. Mr J. A. X. Reidle was the first manager and the business expanded almost from its inception. Shortly after this Mr Theomin joined with Mr G. P. Farquhar, and founded the firm of Glendermid, Ltd., with tanneries at Sawyers' Bay. For many years Mr Theomin was chairman of directors of Glendermid, Ltd. His other business venture was the importing firm of Messrs David Benjamin and Company, and this was liquidated afler a successful career, a few years ago. In addition to holding a leading place in his personal business undertakings, Mr Theomin had a close and long association with many worthy civic movements. He frequently held the position of president and had always been an active member of the Jewish congregation. As a lover of the artistic he had a long and active association with the Dunedin Public Art Gallery Society, and had helped every movement to provide better housing facilities for the treasures which have multiplied throughout the years. His first association with the society was in 1889, when the building adjoining the museum, and known as the. .old tin <;hed" was in commission. .it is a long and Progressive Sen from this old building to the premises in Lower High street and a much greater one to the spacious gallery at Logan Park which ewes much to Mr Theomin .It was during his visit to England in 1927 that the Italian sculptor, Raoul was commissioned to execute mi Carrara marble, for presentation to the gallery, the large and important piece of statuary, "The Wrestlers." The original is in the Tribuna at the Uffizi Gallery. Florence. The inscription on the work in the local gallery presented by Mr Theomin is as fol-lows:--"The Wrestlers, from the original Grecian bronze, Third Century. 8.C." Another of Mr Theomin's valued. contributions is the painting in oils! entitled "A Self Portrait," by A.Stuart Hill. Mr Theomin had a long association with the Royal Dunedin Male Choir, of which he held the office of | president for many years. In July. 1932, in recognition of his valued service, he was presented with a handsome gold lyre and clasp. He was a member of the executive of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association from its inception in 1915, and of the Shipwreck Relief Society, of which he was treasurer for many years. As a member of the committee of the Patients' and Prisoners' Aid Society he did good work, and he helped in the founding of the James Powell Rest Home at Warrington. Mr Theomin had a useful association with the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, having served on the executive and been elected as president for the years 1900-01 and 1901-02. He represented the local chamber of commerce at the inauguration of federation in Australia in 1900, and also at the coronation of King Edward. Since May 11, 1905, Mr Theomin had acted as one of the Dunedin City Sinking Fund Commissioners, and at all times he showed a pleasant readiness to help civic activities or any worthy movement promoted by those anxious to forward its welfare. In business he was enterprising and deservedly successful. In private life he was always kindly and considerate where the reeds of others were concerned, and a wide circle of friends and acquaintance.-? will miss his cheery greeting Mr Theomin is survived by a son and! a daughter.

PROFESSOR J. W. HINTON.

The death occurred at Colombo on Saturday morning of Professor John Wilkic Hinton, Professor of Physics at the University of Ceylon, and a New Zealand scientist of great promise. Professor Hinton was only in his thirty-ninth year, and his death followed a very sudden illness.

A son of Mr and Mrs D. Hinton, of Invercargil], he was educated at the Southland Boys' High School, where he had a brilliant scholastic career. At the University of Otago he held Beverly and Senior Education Board scholarships, and won prizes in mathematics and science. Professor Hinton took his B.Sc. at Otago in 1915, and his M.Se, with first-class honours, in physics, a year later. He was twice nominated by the university for a Rhodes scholarship, and on each occasion was among the last three candidates from whom the selection was made. He served as a lieutenant with tiie New Zealand Rifle Brigade in France during the Great War, and was wounded in 1918. From 1920 until 1925 he was lecturer in physics at the University of Otago. and assistant master at Knox College. In 1925 and 1926 he advanced his studies at Cambridge University, principally with research work in physics; and at the end of 192G he was appointed Professor of Physics at the University of Ceylon—the appointment he held at the time of his death.

About two years ago Professor Hinton came to New Zealand to visit his parents at Invercargill. The first advice of his illness with pneumonia and pleurisy was received last Tuesday, and he died on Saturday morning. He was a brother of Mr Frank Hinton. cable sub-editor of the Christchurch "Sun."

JUDGE RAWSON. ASSOCIATION T ELKJ i! AM . ' WELLINGTON, July 15. The death occurred at Wellington to-day of Judge Walter Edward Rawson, Native Land Court Judge. Judge Rawson. who was born in New Plymouth in 1870, was a son of Dr. T. E. Rawson and a grandson of the Rev. John Whiteley. He was educated at the New Plymouth High School, and came to Wellington in 1887. Before 1889 he was with Mr C. Bunny, solicitor, of Wellington, and from 1889 to I9OG he was associated with Mr E. P. Bunny, being a partner in the legal firm for the last seven years of that period. On August 27, 1906, he was appointed Judge of the Native Land Court, and was appointed Judge of the Native Appellant Court on February 1, 1907. From 1907 to 1928 he served as Native Land Court Judge, and on the Appellant Court in various districts. In 1913 he exercised jurisdiction in the Rotorua district, and he was Judge of the WellingtonSouth Island district from November 24, 1919, till April 1, 1921, when he was appointed Native Trustee, at the same time retaining his position as Judge of the Native Land Court. On February 7, 1921, he was appointed East Coast Trust Commissioner. He occupied his official positions up till the time of his death.

Judge Rawson, who was very well known in Wellington, was an allround sportsman, and followed many branches of athletic sport. In 1891 he was a member of the Oriental Football Club's team which won the junior Rugby championship. In the following year he joined the Wellington Club, the Oriental Club having gone temporarily out of existence. He was an honorary member of the Wellington Club till the time of his death. He was in the Wellington Club's fifteen which won the junior championship in 1894, and he played for three or four seasons in the club's first fifteen. He was a very keen swimmer. Pie leaves a widow, one son, and one daughter.

MR FRANK WILLS. The funeral of Mr Frank Wills, formerly a very well-known and highlyrespected resident of Wellington and Eastbourne, took place on Friday at Karori Cemetery. The service, which was conducted by the Rev. W. Raine, of Eastbourne, was largely attended by relatives and friends. Mr Wills, who was 80 years of age, was a son of. the late Mr James Fabian Wills, and was born at Wellington in 1853. At 14 years of age he entered the office of Mr Izard, barrister and solicitor, and continued in the employ of that gentleman and of the succeeding firms for a great many years, rising to the position of managing clerk and only retiring from the firm (then Messrs Izard and Weston) a few years before the Great War. He was for many years a very prominent member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, being specially identified with the Southern Cross Lodge, and passed through all chairs, being elected Grand Master of Grand Lodge in 1895.

MR W. J. CUTTLE. The death occurred in a private hospital in Auckland last week of Mr William James Cuttle, of Wheturangi road, Green Lane, who was widely known in business circles in Auckland. Born in Dunedin, Mr Cuttle was employed as a young man at the railway workshops at East Town, Wanganui, and some years ago he stood unsuccessfully in the interests of the Reform party for the Wanganui seat in Parliament against the present representative, Mr W. A. Veitch. Mr Cuttle, who was in business in Wanganui as a land agent, went to Auckland about nine years ago, and he joined the auctioneering and furniture firm of George Walker, Limited, four years ago, and was a director at the time of his death. He was a member of the Masonic Order, and also was interested in the Auckland Orphans' Club. Mr Cuttle is survived by his widow. A brother is the Rev. T N Cuttle of the Somervell Presbyterian Church. Remuera.

REV. J. c. PATERSON. The death occurred at Oamaru yesterday morning of the Rev. James Crawford Paterson, a well-known Presbyterian minister. He was born at Largs, Scotland, and obtained his degrees at Glasgow University. He was ordained to the Presbyterian in Glasgow, and came to New Zealand more than 30 years agu his first charge being at Flemington, near Ashburton. He then went to Maheno, North Otago. After seven years' ministry there he went to Albury, South Canterbury, thence to Lincoln, Canterbury, where he resided for a further seven years. Later he went to Owaka, in the Cathns district, Otago, but was compelled to retire on account of ill-health. In all his charges he was highly respected and will be remembered for the unassuming Christian character that marked his ministrations. He married the daughter of the late I'. Robert Brown, of Oamaru, and is survived by a widow and daughter.

MR HENRY HILL

l-THESS ASSOCIA.TIOX TELEOiUU.) NAPIER, July 15. | The death has occurred of Mr Henry [ Hill, iormerly inspector o£ schools in Hawke's Bay. Mr HiU was born at Lye, Stourbridge, Worcestershire, in 1849, and was educated at Lye, where he gained ,a Redhill foundation scholarship, and at Cheltenham Training College. Com- ' in" out to New Zealand in 1873 under .special engagement to the Canterbury Provincial Government, he completed his education at the New Zealand University, and started school teaching at Avonside in church and tents. He was the first headmaster at the East Christchurch School, which was opened in the presence of the Governor, Sir George Bowen. Mr HiU took his B.A. degree in 1878, and was the first winner of the Bowen Prize. In 1878 he was appointed secretary and inspector of schools in Hawke's Bay, and he retired in 1914. In his long career Mr Hill took part in many activities. He was a member of the Royal Commission to consider teachers' salaries, and started and edited the "New Zealand Schoolmaster" at Napier. For five years he was a member of the Napier Borough Council, and for two years was Mayor. He was also a member of the Hospital Board, chairman of the Park Island Old People's Home, an original member of the Hawke's Bay Power Board, president of the Hawkes Bay Society, a member of the High School Board of Governors, and a governor of the New Zealand Institute. On one_ occasion he contested a seat for Parliamentary honours. He was also a Fellow ot Lhe Geological Society. He was a voluminous contributor to (he Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, and had written largely on educational and geological subjects, and on Maori folklore and traditions. He was the possessor of a valuable collection of Maori curios and carvings, and in his younger days was an enthusiastic mountaineer, with a thorough acquaintance of the volcanic regions of the Dominion.

MR E. W. GURR. 'I"JESS ASSOCIATION TE [.EC RAM..I AUCKLAND, July 15. News has been received of the death of Mr E. W. Gurr at the Naval Hospital at Pago Pago on July 1. Mr Gurr was educated at Invercargill and went to Samoa in 1886. He was Chief Judge of American Samoa from 1900 to 1908, and returned to Western Samoa, from which, with Mr O. F. Nelson and Mr A. G. Smyth, he was deported in 1928. He spent his exile in New Zealand, and left for Apia last May, but owing to ill-health entered the hospital at Pago Pago. Mr Edwin William Gurr was born at Westbury, Tasmania, in 1862. He was educated at Adelaide, matriculated in New Zealand, and studied law. After teaching for some years he resigned from the position of second assistant at Temuka to attend the university. He visited the South Sea Islands in 1886 and remained in Samoa to watch events. Then he engaged in banking and general business at Apia with Mr J. T. M. Hayhurst, Temuka. He practised law in the consular courts and was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Samoa. He came into prominence as an opponent of German exploitation and acted as counsel for Malietoa in the kingship dispute. He had charge of the Malietoa party in the civil war, under the command of the American and British forces. In 1899 he was retained by the government of the United States of America to assist the commandant at Tutuila in establishing the Government of Eastern Samoa, and he obtained the cessions to the United States of Tutuila and Manua. Under the United States Government he was registrar of titles, Secretary for Native Affairs, and Chief Judge till 1908, and then took up planting in Eastern Samoa. He established the "Samoa Guardian," being editor until his deportation in 1927. In 1890 he married Fanua Eleitino, taupou of Apia, daughter of Seumanutafa, chief of Apia.

MR FREDERICK HODGSON. Mr Frederick Hodgson, whose death at Te Arai, North Auckland, is announced, was formerly a well-known resident of Marlborough, where he had several relatives. He was a son of the late Mr William Hodgson, of • pr ™ 3, G £? ve ' Nelson, and was born in 1861 On completing his education he went to Marlborough and spent many years on various sheep stations at first in the Amuri and Kaikoura districts and later nearer Blenheim. Tor some time he was head shepherd at Birch Hill and later he managed Red ?„ lU i p^nod; while he a «o managed Middlehurst, in the Upper Awatere. As his children reached school ?£f' m "TTO h 5 decid ed to move to the North Island and took up dairvwf, Ia n n n d /£ ar , Fe j ldin & after which he Xt ™ r LiH , land m various parts of «£ £ n S Is 2 and H ntn he fl na»y settled at Te Arai. in various districts he devoted a great deal of time to local body affairs, and he was also a thewa e r.° f A^ustment Board after