OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 247, 14 July 1932, Page 10

OBITUARY

Mr. William A. Grace The death occurred at his residence, 20 Pinnacle Street, Seatoun, yesterday of Mr. William Arthur Grace, one of the oldest and most respected residents of the district. The late Mr. Grace was born In Northumberland, England, on September 29, 1844, and came to New Zealand with his parents when but six years of age in the sailing vessel Northfleet (which was burnt at sea with considerable loss of life three years later), For manyyears he engaged in farming pursuits in the Wairarapa district, and often made the trip to Wellington and back on horseback over the Rimutakas before the railway tracks were laid over the range. For some time past Mr. Grace has lived in retirement at Seatoun. He was patron and a foundation member of the Seatoun Bowling Club. He was a life member of the Wellington Racing Club, a. former member of the Wairarapa Racing Club, and for some years was a prominent active member of the Petone Rifle Club. Deceased was a single man. His relatives are Messrs. J. K. Jackson, of Wainul-o-mata; Mr. S. L. Jackson, of Levin; and Mr. Gordon Jackson, of Wellington, nephews; and Messrs. W. and E. L. Willoughby, of Island Bay, great-nephews. Captain A. H. Thorpe Private advice has bqen received of the death at Melbourne of Captain A. H. Thorpe, late harbourmaster at Lyttelton. Captain Thorpe died suddenly on July 2, three days after his successor, the late Captain T. M. Hunter. Captain Thorpe, until retiring at the end of 1921, was in the service of the Lyttelton Harbour Board for twenty-one years, for thirteen of which he was harbourmaster. He joined the board in 1901 as pilot, coming ashore off the Westralia to take up the position. Captain Thorpe was born at Derby, England. He joined the Staffordshire, a full-rigged ship, as an apprentice, and in this ship he voyaged all round the world for two years. Later he transferred to the King of Italy, another full-rigged sailer. On completing his apprenticeship in the King of Italy, during which time he gained a second mate’s certificate, Captain Thorpe, then 17 J years old, left that vessel and joined the barque Atrevida, then employed in the China-New Zealand trade. He later joined the Australian Steam Navigation Company. Inducements being offered him by the Huddart Parker Company, he joined that company and remained with them for sixteen years. During the time that Captain Thorpe was harbourmaster he berthed the Renown during her visit to Lyttelton, a feat that attracted much attention at that time.x Captain Thorpe leaves two sons, both seafarers, and two daughters, Miss Lottie Thorpe and Miss Olive Thorpe. Miss Oliye Thorpe, who is a nurse in Sydney, was well known among Christchurch musical circles. Mrs. Thorpe died at Melbourne some years ago. Mr. Robert Logan Mr. Robert Logan, who at one time was partner in the shipbuilding firm of Logan Brothers, died at Auckland last night at the age of 68. The firm built some of the most famous yachts on the Waitemata. Daniel Bum The death has occurred at Wakefield, Nelson, in his eighty-fourth year, of Mr. Daniel Burn, an old and respected resident, and the son of the late Mr. Robert Burn, one of the pioneers, who arrived in the ship Bolton in 1842. Mr. Daniel Burn, who leaves a wife and grown-up family, was a Druid, and was known as the “grand old man” of the district. He was secretary for some years of the Trafalgar Lodge, Wakefield. He always took an active part in the life or the community and was a petty officer in the old Nelson Navals. Before settling at Wakefield he was in business as a plumber and tinsmith.