OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR ALFRED CURTIS. One of Wellington's earliest settlers died on Saturday in the of Mr. Alfred Curtis, of Molesworth at tbe'ago-of sixty-eight years, almost the whole of. his life having been' passed; in this'city; Ho was born in London; but when; only; four- months old he left for New Zealand with his father and mother ! in the;' ship' 'Londoil (Captain . Shnttleworth), arriving in Wellington on December ,13,'1840. ! ThO family took up their residcnco in Tiiiakori'Roadi' that part of:the settlement' being then covered .'with' bush,' a. laTge number of Maoris living in the neighbourhood.' The natives'oaused much anxiity' at times to the • settlers, though no ' actual.: fighting; occured so 1 near • to: thecity.Mr. . Curtis grew up with the place, and witnessed ■ .its transformation, from a little . community, composed of a mere handful of people and a few scattered homes ,into'' a great modern commercial ; . .city with all tho comforts, and .' conveniences' that twentieth century .civilisation can supply. , Mr. Curtis often spoke .with affection of ;.tho ' simple : life? of those early days,. and well remembered-, P attending; .the services in; St.;, Paul's Church,' then,.s little structuro built close by, the present ~ site'.'of Government House'. ; He' sang ,in : the choir, together'with his father.: the late, Mr. John Cook,- f iid thc latter's three, sonsy .Li'ier on v in. life Mr. Curtis was in. business for many ■ years oh Lambton ' Quay.' ; About.. sixteen years.aM lw^was^ppMM.pne^qf.the Parlia- ' nientary" officials,' and'; 'session' after session lie, acted as 'oneofr,tho jttttondants jn the House of Repi-eSentativMi ,'lwing highly esteemed, for;'his vunfiiling'- cottrtesy and" attention ,ti) duty. . He had been in bad, health f6r''s6me time;past, 'and passed_ quietly. t away on Saturday night.' : Mr. .^Curtis/was a'|man of, genial, but ;unostontatipus disposition,; and was, greatly respccted foi- liis high; personal character by all with whom he came hi contact. He leaves a wife .and family-of four, two sons'and two daughters, to mourn thoir loss.)' . .. '■ ' , MRS.j-T. MUNGEAM. 7 ' (BY tELEGBAWI.—SPECIA.r, COEnESPOKIIBNT.) _ ' v Christchurch, May 9.' ■ The death has■■■ occurred at Affiberley of Mrs. , T: Mwigeam, ji very, early-, settler in New Zealand.. Mrs. Mungeam arrived in Wellington in 1853 with ■net'.' brother, tHe Rev. S. Poole, and three <sistbrs. ■ ;Iri 1865 sho'married tho late Mr. T.'Mungeam, and settled • in;. New Plymouth. ;.They subsequently removed to Nelson, and two years later to' Canterbury/ taking up a. farm at Loburn, where they resided for thirty-three years. Mrs.-Mungeam, was eighty-four years .of age. '■' MR. JOHN MERRYLEES. (BY TELEGRAPIt.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Walpawa, May 8. ■ The death is announced at Waipukurau of an :old -Hawke's Bay resident,: Mr. John .Merrylees. • ,He saw • active service m •connection with tho pursuit of To Koolji. . . ' ■ ■'THE LATE MR PETRIE X ' * [BY TBLEORAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] .'. : Creymouth, May 9. -x The funoral of the late Mr. Joseph Petrie yesterday afternoon was the longest ever seen on the Coast, representative men from - all parts being present. .' All the: various organisations with which- the I deceased was connected were fully represented} and there were two carriages loaded with 150. wreaths. The coffin was on a • fire brigade carriage. . Tlie Anglican: serVice, at the chui-ch and . cravcsido .was' conducted impi'hssively* by'.. Archdeacon; York. The ; Battalion ahd: Citizeiis' Bands alternately played, the " Dead .March"-along tho entire route. , The cor-, tego was nearly a mile long. j » MAJOR EDMUNDSON. . Napier, May 9. ■ Tho death is announced of :Maior' EdmuiidI son, who saw considerable: service in India. I Deceased arrived in the colony in -1887.