OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22108, 2 June 1937, Page 10

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN W. T. PITT U'BEHS ASSOCIATION TELEGEAM.) GISBORNE. June I The death occurred on his sixtieth birthday of Captain W. T. Pitt, a leading member of the Maori race. Captain Pitt served with the first New Zealand Contingent in the Boer War, and on the outbreak of the Great War he joined the First Maori Contingent, seeing service at Gallipoli and ill France. In recent years he had been Maori welfare officer under the Native Department, taking a prominent part in land development schemes. In his earlier years Captain Pitt was a prominent footballer. He captained Poverty Bay for several years, and latterly he was a member of the Maori Rugby Advisory Board. MR P. LE QUESNE (I'JIESS ASSOCIATION TKLEGEAM.) HAMILTON, June 1. Mr Philip le Quesne died last evening, aged 100 years. He was associated with the commercial ana social life of the town for more than 70 years. Up to several weeks ago he was able to take an active interest in the affairs of the day and attend to his excellent garden. A carpenter by trade, Mr Le Quesne was a native of Jersey, where he lived for 24 years. In New Zealand he first lived at Auckland, and after six years there came to the Waikato, arriving at Ngaruawahia on horseback over rough bridle tracks. He later opened a store in Hamilton, when most of his customers were members of the Waikato Militia. He then built the Waikato Hotel, and was the first man to make wine in the Waikato. Through his zeal the first Anglican church in Hamilton was erected. After being here for a year Mr Le Quesne accompanied Archdeacon Pritl In a canvass of the district, but only 12 worshippers were secured, and for years the services were held in a shingle whare on land which is now the site of the present cathedral. He retired from active business life in 1902 He is surviv |i by two sons, Messrs Winter John Le Quesne (New South Wales), and Alfred Le Quesne (Auckland), and two daughters, Mrs C. Quick and Miss H. Le Quesne. of Hamilton. There are six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.