OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26414, 7 May 1951, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR E. J. D. HERCUS (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 6. Mr Eldred John Diek Hercus, a distinguished linguist and missionary, and a former language master at Wellington College and Christchurch Boys’ High School, died in Wellington on Saturday at the., age of 74. Mr Hercus was oa-the staff <?f Wellington College from 1916 to 1922, and was language master at the Christchurch Boys’ High School from 1923 to 1945. He was a prominent member of the Baptist Church and acted as minister of the Berhampore Baptist Church for 18 months. In addition to Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Mr Hercus was proficient in six modern languages. He was a university examiner in Spanish, and lectured in Greek at Canterbury University College. The eldest son of Mr and Mrs John Hercus, he was bom in Dimedin. He was dux of the George Street School and the Otago Boys’ High School, and graduated B.Sc: and M.A. with honours at the University of (ftago. In 1904 he married Miss Isabel Margaret MacKellar, a fellow student. From 1904 until 1911 Mr Hercus was a missionary in the Argentine and in Peru. On his retirement he lived in Nelson, and for the last two years in Wellington. There are three daughters, Mrs W. J. Waljace, Christchurch; Sister M. Helen Hercus, a deaconess of the Presbyterian Church; and Miss Agnes Hercus, of the Wellington East Girls’ College; and one son, the Rev. D. M. Hercus, chaplain of Scots CoHege. There are five grandchildren.

MR G. H. W. GALE

The death occurred suddenly yesterday of Mr Gus Herbert William Gale. He was aged 53. Bom in Christchurch, Mr Gale was educated at the New Brighton School. AX the age of 16 he enlisted with the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, and was invalided home from World War I in 1918. Mr Gale was a public accountant, and was a partner in the firm of Milks', Gale, and Winter. He was a member of the Returned Services’ Association and a former president of the RSA. Bowling Club. Recently he was dected a member of the New Zealand Bowling Council. 'At the time of his death he was president of the Christchurch Competitions Society and had for a time previously been the secretary. He was gcsent at the opening of the competitions festival on Saturday. In 1947 he was made a Justice of the Peace. For many years he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and was a past master of Lodge 276, Riccarton. __ln his earlier years he was an active member of the swimming and boxing Msociations. ' Mr Gale is survived by his wife.

MR J. B. MAWSON

memorial service held 1A memorial service for Mr J. B. Mawson, rector of St. Andrew’s Col*ge from 1934 to 1947, who died last Wonth, was held in the assembly hall JSt. Andrew’s College yesterday •wning. The service, arranged by old ®ys of the college and members of parent-teacher association, was conducted by the chaplain, the Rev. D. and more than 200 were Mr D. C. Wilson represented “e Old Boys’ Association, and Mr H. A Ferguson the Parent-teacher Assooation. The address was given by the rector, "■ W. Stewart, a lament was played the college pipe band, and after °*nediction by the chaplain, John Mara pupil of the college, sounded Post” and “Reveille.”