Obituary

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28951, 20 July 1959, Page 13

Obituary

MR JAMES MONTEATH Affectionately remembered by 3000 old boys of Christ’s College whom he taught English Mr James Monteath died at Christchurch on Saturday, aged 82.

A son of Sir James Monteath, he was bom in Bombay and educated at Clifton College, England, and at Christ’s College, Cambridge. A. versatile athlete, he was an enthusiastic cricketer, footballer, tennis player, and gymnast in his younger days. Graduating BA from Cambridge, Mr Monteath came to New Zealand in 1904 and joined the staff of Christ’s College in that year. Throughout his 43-year term of service he was senior English master. Mr Monteath was in charge of the school in 1931, between the departure of the Rev. E. C. Crosse and the appointment of Mr R. J. Richards, and again in 1938, when Mr Richards visited England. His length of service to the school remains a record.

Mr Monteath was largely responsible for the organisation of the day boy houses, and from 1909 to 1939 was house master of North Town, later Julius House. He was master in charge of the library and for many years supervised the production of the school magazine, the “Register.” Since his retirement in 1948 his interests have been sketching, fishing and gardening. Mr Monteath married twice and had four children by his first marriage. Mr J. M. Monteath, of Roxburgh, is the only survivor of these children. .Warrant Officer A. P. J. Monteath, a younger brother of Mr J. M Monteath, was killed in action in 1942 with the 22nd Battalion, 2nd N.Z-E.F. Mr Monteath’s brother, Sir David Monteath, and sister, who live in England, survive him. Mr Monteath married Mrs Kathleen Tennent in 1922. Mesdames A. L. Haslam, G. L. Nico 11, J. H. Young, and J. H. McCracken are Mrs Monteath’s daughters by her previous marriage. A funeral service will be held tn the college chapel tomorrow afternoon. MR T. J. B. MASON (New Zealana Press Association) HAMILTON, July 19. The secretary of the New Zealand Auto Cycle Union, Mr T. J. B. Mason, collapsed and died in Hamilton yesterday. He had held the position for the last 10 years. Besides his interest in the motor-cycle sport, Mr Mason was a prominent Rotarian in Hamilton. He was closely connected with the New Zealand Crippled Children Society, and also held a number of executive posts in swimming.