OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21141, 17 April 1934, Page 15

OBITUARY

MR J. CHARLES UMBERS

There died at Dunedin ■ a few days ago Mr J. Charles Umbers, one of that much reduced band of vocalists and amateur actors who made the southern city in its early days famous throughout the Dominion, some members even carrying their talents successfully to the Homeland. Mr Umbers was known affectionately to all old Dunedinites as "Charley." For BO years Mr Umbers had been known to his public—performing, stage-man-aging, "organising, singing, writing sketches, and always to the fore when patriotic or charitable performances became necessary. Mr Umbers was one of that band of amateurs who trod the "boards" when the public was without pictures or any modern amusement. In the 'seventies sometimes many months intervened between the visits of professional companies. Then Mr Umbers and his little band would produce opera, burlesque, drama, or any form of entertainment that would attract and amuse a theatreless public. Associated with him were such well-known entertainers as Tom Bracken, Fergus Hume, Mary Hume (Mrs Charles Dilleby), Carmini Morley, Bessie Hume," George West, A. J. C. Baber, Charles Coombs, Saul Solomon, Arthur Burrows (Salvino. Henry Stockwell, Philip Newbury, Miss Hesford, and later Amy Murphy and her mother (Mrs Wrn. Murphy), the Blaneys (Rose and Kitty*, Jim Jago, Harry Smith, William Densetu, Farquhar Young, Ernest Packer, and many others. The death of Mr Umbers severs a link witli early Duncdin's old identities.

AN APPRECIATION (By F.Y.I Bark in Duncdin's early days "Charley" timbers was a romantic figure to stir a boy's imagination. Tall, well-built, debonair, with a mass of curJy hair, and in his dress the "Dandy" of Beau Brummeldom, his cheery greetings to hoys, adults, and all, marked his kindiy. genial nature. Whenever in doubt regarding poetical construct ion, a musical plinee, an historical event in colonial life, it was "ask Charley Umbers." How should a character in drama be correctly "made up"? Again he was to the rescue with punctilious detail and all the necessary "props"—even if lie had to manufacture them himself. Only those personally acquainted with him know with what well-thought-out "gags" and detail one's part could be improved, even if his own lost something in the process. He was a fine, unselfish character, suspecting no evil in his fellows. His modesty regarding his poetic efforts is well remembered and few of us knew until long after the event that his poem. "The Fireman," had been accepted by a London magazine and afterwards approved by the Minister for Education (the Hon. V/. Pember Reeves) for publication in the "New Zealand School Reader" of those days.

And now he is fallen upon sleep kindly, genial, gentle, gallant Charley Kia Moe Waimane E'hoa.

MR A. H. KINGDON The death occurred at Gore on Saturday of a well-known resident of Eastern Southland m the person ol Mr Arthur Henry Kingdon, of "Ka/.elbank," Gore. Air Kingdon was born in Cornwall, England, in and came out to this country with hi.; parents on the Mermaid, landing at Lyltelto-i on New Year's Day, 1 Still. His people farmed in the Halkctt district until 1831, and removed to Gore m that year, being members of the party of early settiers known as the "Canterbury pilgiims." After some year:; on his father's farm Mr Kingdun cr,tered cuiinifTrial life, being a! different periods sevk man?"er for Ihe New Zealand Loan end iClcreatitiie Agency Company and manager of the Gore branch of the Southland Farmery' ('o-nperatr o A:-soria! i<>n. 11l look up fanning about .''•() y.-*ar:> ag"

A widow and grown up I'miily of si % : survive. Mr N. W*. Kingd'iti, well known in the An: tralian and New Zealand meat export trade, was a brother.

CAPTAIN A. THOMSON rriE.ii ,\s:i i i.vrl'iM rr.i.r,>>it/.«. AUCKLAND. April 10. News was received to-day that Captain A. Thomson, master of the steamer Fife, which is due to-mor-row from Java, died at sea on April