DEATH OF MR. A. H. TURNBULL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 241, 29 June 1918, Page 8

DEATH OF MR. A. H. TURNBULL

A VALUABLE BEQUEST REFERENCE LIBRARY FOR WELLINGTON Another honoured representative of one of the aid Wellington families died at 5.15 a.m. yesterday, in the person of -ur. Alexander Horsbrugh Turnbull, formerly of the firm of Messrs. W. and (i. Turnbull and Co., and one of the best known and most respected among the commercial fraternity of the city. -Mr. Turnbull has not enjoyed sood health for some years past, but during recent months he has been in a low state of health. Kecendy he became a patient in the Bowen Street Private Hospital, and it was in that institution lie died, much to the regret of everyone who knew him. 1

, Mr. Turnbull, who was born in Wellington in 1869. was tho son of the late Mr. Walter Turnbull, ono of the founders of the firm of W. and G. Turnbull and Co., of Customhouse Quay, for the greater part of Wellington's history one of tho leading commercial houses of the district. Only two years • ago an arrangement was made with Mi:. Turnbull whereby the business 1 passed into the hands of Messrs. Wright, Stephenson and Co. When quite a lad, the late Mr. Turnbull was sent to England. He was educated at Dulwicli College, and after leaving that institution served for a time in the London office of tho Turnbull firm. Later he became one of the heads of the firm, being associated _ far many years in controlling the business with the late Mr. Nicolas Eeid. Subsequently the business was divided between the two, 'Mr. Eeid taking over the manufacturing part of the business, whilst the shipping, general merchandise, etc., were retained by Mr. Turnbull. That arrangement continued up till the time the control of the business was taken over by Wright, Slephenson and Co., since when Mr. Turnbull had taken no activo part in the affairs of the company. Mr. Turnbull was of a rather quiet and reserved disposition, but to those who knew him best his nature and sentiments were charming,,and in an entirely unobtrusive way he was known to be "a friend indeed."' He had no penchant for public life,, though eminently fitted to grace any public position. He enjoyed a game of golf when in good health, and was a particularly keen yachtsman. He owned the'yacht Bona,' and later the lorangi, and on more than one occasion steered both yachts to' victory in regattas held in Wellington Harbour. He was at one time president of the old Thorndon Dinghy Club, and occupied a similar position in ' the Port Nicholson Yacht Club. He was a most liberal patron ■ f the sp-.vt of yachting and all "old hands" at the tiller will regret the passing of a kindred spirit. Ho was also a member of the Wellington Chamber of Comnierco and a director of the United Insurance Company.

The sure perspective of . time, however, will hold for Mr. Turnbull a niche of honour as an enthusiastic collector of books, pamphlets,' newspapers, charts, ships' logs, sketches, etc., of early New Zealand and Australia, but particularly of New Zealand. Au ardent collector and i'ellbw bibliophile in Wellington informed a Dominion- representative yesterday that Mr. Turnbull's library was the finest and largest collection or New Zealand records in the world. _ It was practically a priceless collection,' as there were books, logs, and papers in the collection that were sole originals. For years Mr. Turnbull had been in touch with the leading London and American collectors, who were under instruction to securt anything of the kind on his behalf. His collection of books on early New Zealand was unique, and the portfolios of prints and sketches dealing with the genesis of the colony were remarkable. Pamphlets were another feature, and .Ms shipe' logs dating 1 back to tlie voyages of Captain Cook were of incalculable historical . value. For instance, he had the log of the Adventure, one of !>.e vessns of Cook's second voyage to New; Zealand, a vessel which came to grief in Queen Charlotte Sound. For years past he had devoted himself to the compilation of a catalogue of his treasures and their contents on the card index plan, which adds considerable value to the collection, and should, make it of immeasurable benefit to reference-huntero. Mr. Turnbull was a voracious reader on New Zealand and the colonies generally, an?l he was gifted with a wonderfully retentive menir ory on almost any phase of those subjects associated with his hobby, and this information he was always enthusiastically willing to impart to an.v serious scarcher after tlie truth. It is stated that the greater part of the late Hon. Hobert M'Nab's book "Murihiku" was compiled in Mr. Turnbull's library, and other authors have found the Turnbull collection a mine of invaluable information.

In view of the- above testimonial to the value of the Turnbull collection, which cannot, be set down '.n inunls, shillings, and pence, it will; be learned with interest that Mr. Turnbull has' bequeathed his collection to liis Majesty the King, in the terms of a ■ odicil to his will, vkich set out in formal Inng'ngo that lie leaves to H.M.'tho Kins all his library, comprising his printed hooks, pamphlets, engravings, charts, manuscripts, sketches, maps, photographs, plans, and pictures, to constitute a reference library in the city of Wellington for tho use of persons and students interested in tho subjects specified in the library. The conditions of use of the library are left to tho discretion of the Government of New Zealand, which is asked to take the British Museum, London, and the Mitchell Library, Sydney, as a guide for such conditions of use.

With the objcct of housing tho library, Mr. Turnbull built a very fine residence in bribk in Sydney Street some four years ago, fully half of which is' taken up with the collection. Mr. Turnbull is survived t>y a brother, Mr. Robert Turnbull,.of Lowry Bay, and a sister, Mrs, Leo Wood, of London. The flags of the commercial and bank-ing-houses of the city were ilowu at halfmast yesterday as a mark of esteem for the late Mr. Turnbull.