Obituary FATHER T. BERGIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29518, 20 May 1961, Page 14

Obituary FATHER T. BERGIN

Father Thoma# OttneMut Bergin, Society ot Mary, well known as the founder of St Christopher's boys’ clubs in Christchurch and Wanganui, died in Christchurch on Thursday evening after six months' illness. He was 57 Father Bergin was born at Waverley, Sydney, and was educated in Australia. In 1923 be came to Hew Zealand and attended the Marirt Fathers’ seminary at Greenmeadows. He was ordained in Sydney in 1929 by the then Arehbishop of Sydney (the Most Rev. M Kelly). His first seven years in the priesthood he spent teaching at the Marist secondary school at Mittagong. New South Wales, and at St. John’s College, Lismore. He was transferred to New Zealand to 1937. From 1937 to 1939 Father Bergin taught at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and was then transferred to St. Mary’s parish, Christchurch, for six years. In 1939 he started the St. Christopher's Club in Christchurch. After bis six years in Christchurch, Father Bergin was moved to Wanganui, where he also started a St. Christopher’s club. He was appointed a parish priest in Napier for a time and returned to St. Mary’s parish. Christchurch, to 1954. In 1957 he was transferred to Timaru, where he remained until he became ill.

CAPTAIN R. A. NEWTON "The Press” Special Service I AUCKLAND, May 19. 1 Captain Robert Algernon i Newton, R.N. (retd.), of Okoroire, has died aged 86. He served in the RussoJapanese War, in the Boxer RebelXon. in naval skirmishes in Zanzibar and Turkey and in both world wars. Captain Newton was related l to rhe scientist Sir Isaac New-! ton and carried on the tradition of inventiveness with a torpedo-firing device while on service on the China coast. Born in Hove. Sussex, Captain Newton was the sixth child of General Horace Parker Newton, a commander in the Crimean War. Through his mother, Lady Jane Knox, he could trace descent from John Knox, founder of the Presbyterian Church. He married Miss Mary Morgan, of Hawke’s Bay, in 1911 and settled at Ostend, Waiheke, and later at Horsham Downs. When the First World War broke out he served first in naval intelligence and later did minelaying at Heligoland. Scapa Flow and Lowestoft. He was given command of H.M.S. Calgarian, as Commodore of Atlantic Convoys. After the war he returned to his farm at Okoroire. Shortly before the Second World War he returned to England and became commanding officer of the Unexploded Bombs Demolition Corps for the Marylebone district.

MR C. MIDDLETON Mr Clarence Tyrrell Middleton, who served as clerk to three Canterbury local bodies, has died to Auckland He was 91. Bom at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Mi- Middleton came to New Zealand in 1899 and was appointed clerk of the Mount Hutt Road Board. Methven. He was next Town Clerk of Sumner and then of New Brighton. He retired in 1940 and lived at Te Kuiti before going to Auckland. He is survived by three sons and a daughter.

MR W. ROBERTSON The death has occurred after a brief illness of Mr William McFarlane Robertson, for many years a senior member of the staff of the Atlantic Union Oil Company. Ltd. Mr Robertson was born in Blenheim and educated at Marlborough College. During World War II he was adjutant of the School of Instruction at Burnham with the rank of captain. He will be remembered by many who passed through the school during this period for his unflatwing efficiency and courtesy under all conditions He is survived by his widow, (formerly Miss Nancy Latter, of Barry's Bay), and three daughters.