OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1273, 31 October 1911, Page 4

OBITUARY.

HE, JAMES KIRKER: SOUTII BRITISH INSURANCE COMPANY. A cablo inessago received on Saturday in tho head oliico of the South British insurance Company at Auckland conveyed the news that Mr. James Kirkor, general manager of the company, had died in Vancouver on Friday. Mr. Kirker, accompanied bv Mrs. Kirker, left New Zcalaiuf in March last on a trip which was undertaken partly for health and jvirtly for business. Ho had been subject to heart troubles for several years, and wliilo ill London lie consulled a specialist. Tho physician advised him to give up his projected long tour and to return to New Zealand, telling- him that with care ho might probably live for many, years yet. lie accordingly gave up his trip and was on liis way homo when dcat'h overtook him. Mr. Kirker was bom at Belfast in 185(, and he arrived in the colony with his father's family in 18(31. lie was educated in Wellington, and after six years' of service in the Telegraph Department', joined the South British Insurance Company. lie was for a time in charge of To Aro and .Napier branches, and Ihen he was sent" to Australia to take cliargo of the company's business in South and Weft Australia, in ISS3 he was made inspector of branches in all the territory . in which the company operated, and two years later became general manager. As vice-president of the Council of the New Zealand Underwriters' Association he was one of the best known and most popular men in the insurance world south of tlio Line. The deceased gentleman leaves a wife and seven children. Four of his brothers are. now well-known residents of Wellington. Mrs. Kirker is returning (o New Zealand in the Zcalanriio, which ship will also bring tlio remains of the lata Mr. Kirker to New Zealand for interment. Out of respect for the memory of tlio late general manager, the local office of tlio .South British Insurance Company; was closed yesterday. WELL-KNOWN AUCKLAND RESIDENT. !By TelcffraDh.—Press Association.) Auckland, October 2S. A well-known resident of Auckland, Mr. Alexander Richardson Watson, died at his residence, North Head, Devonport, yesterday in his eighty-fourth year. 11l the early, 'sixties Mr. Watson eamo across to Auckland, where he carried on his business as a contractor, erecting many of the leading buildings of the city. Mr. Watson owned a lot of properly ill and around Auckland, and was considered one of its richest citizens.