OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21863, 17 August 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

REV. J. O. MICHELSEN Experiences extending over 54 years in the Presbyterian inland mission field have been ended by the death at Devonport of the Rev. John Oscar Michelsen, at the at - of 92 years. He was born in Norway, and arrived New Zealand in 1867. After haying been in business at Reefton he joined the Presbyterian foreign mission service, and in 1878 went to. the New Hebrides. Later he went to the i&land of Tongoa, and was the first white man to settle there in the days when cannibalism was rife. Its population then was 950, and when he left it was 1300, of whom 700 were church members. For the first 18 months he lived bn the island alone. In 1880 he vistited Otago to be ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and returned to the mission field with his wife, formerly Miss Langmuir. Mr Michelsen, who was twice married, paid a visit to England with his wife and two daughters in 1891. One son is a minister of the Lutheran Church in Norway. Mr Michelsen retired from active work in the mission field in 1932. After settling at Devonport he became a regular worshipper at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church until his health failed a few weeks ago. MR C. W. WHITE Mr Charles William White, formerly assistant superintendent of, the Post and Telegraph Department in Wellington, where he' died recently, was a son of Mr G. W. White, Linwood, and a grandson of Captain Clarkson, at one time harbourmaster at Timaru. He was born at Lyttelton. He joined the Post and Telegraph Department as a cadet in Picton, and was for some years stationed at Cable Bay, whea the old cable station was in existence. In 1905 he married, and resided in Wanganui, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Napier. He retired from the department at Wellington in .1930. Some years ago, Mr White was well known in musical circles in Nelson, Christchurch, Napier, and Wellington. He leaves a widow, two sons, and one daughter. He is survived by one brother, Captain H. C. White (harbourmaster, Timaru), and three sisters, Mrs A. Mansford (Ngaio), Mrs A. Hemming (Auckland), and Mrs D. Fechney (Christchurch). MR F. LIGHTFOOT WALKER (TOUTED PBXSS ASSOCIATION—COTTNIGHT.) SYDNEY, August 15. The death nas occurred of Mr F. Lightfoot Walker, managing director of John Lysaght (Australia), Ltd., aged 54 years. He was in New Zealand as branch manager for eight years.