OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR. H. H. TRAVERS A very old and highly esteemed resident of Wellington, Mr. Henry Hammerslev Travers, died on Thursday m his 84th year. Born in Ireland in 1844, he was the only son of the late Mr. William Thomas Locke Travers, and arrived at Wellington with his parents at the age of 5 vears hr 1819. Educated at Bishop’s School, Nelson, the forerunner of Nelson College, he spent several years with his father in exploring and botanising expeditions, chiefly in the South Island. Together they traversed much of the back country in Canterbury and Marlborough, where a number of lakes and rivers were named by the father. Later Mr. Travers studied law and was admitted to the Bar about 1876. He practised in Wellington for several vears and then went to the Manawatu district for 12 years. He then returned to Wellington, where he had lived a more, or less retired life ever since. Mr. Travers, who was a Fellow of the Rpval Geographical Society and a member of the'N.Z. Institute, was a recognised authority on the flora and fauna of. New Zealand, and had contributed many papers to the Philosophical Society. He had made many valuable collections of New Zealand birds, insects, plants, and seaweeds, besides naming many species and varieties of fauna and flora. As long ago as 1863 he visited the Chatham Islands for the purpose of Studying the flora of that group. He made a second visit to the Islands in 1871 to studv the Moriori race and their customs. He als> made several botanical expeditions to the Tararuas and the Nelson mountains, adding to his valuable collections and notes. Fie is survived by his widow and three daughters and two sons—Mrs. E. V. Bevan (Wellington), Mrs. R. B. Morris (Timaru), Miss Travers (Wellington), Mr. W. B. Travers (Nelson), and Mr. j. W. Travers (South Africa. The funeral, which will take place to-day, will be private.