OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 202, 23 May 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

Mr. Henry Wright One of the oldest and certainly one of the most familiar ligures in Wellington died yesterday morning. This was Air. Henry Wright, of “Araporo,” Mein Street, governing director of the Commercial Agency, Ltd., of Wellington.

In his tall bell-topper, his black morning coat, scarlet tie, shepherd’s plaid trousers, and always sucking a cigar, Air. Wright (who was 92 years of age) represented the old school — one against whom the tides of changing fashion beat in vain. He was born in the South of England, and came out to Australia at an early age on account of his weak health. From Australia the family moved to New Zealand. Before coming to Wellington Mr. Wright kept a store at AVhangaroa, and when the rush to the goldfields at Coromandel took place he followed the stream, and became manager of some of the companies operating there. Between 1573 and 1876 Mr. Wright carried on business as a public accountant and manager of a commercial flrm in Auckland, and was for a time advisory accountant to the Auckland City Council. On coming to Wellington in 1877, he was manager of the local branch of Guthrie and Larnach, wholesale hardware and timber merchants, and two years later was appointed by the Supreme Court certificated accountant iu bankruptcy under tbe Debtors and Creditors’ Act for the Wellington district. That position could not have been lucrative, as the following year saw him secretary of the Gear Meat Company, founded by Mr. James Gear. Three years later he left that employ to become the first secretary of the Wellington Aleat Export Company, of Ngahaurauga and Wellington. Air. Wright was selected for that post from a number of applicants from all parts of New Zealand. Those were stirring times in Hie meat industry. The first frozen meat exported from New Zealand was dispatched from Dunedin in 1882. The first shipment from Wellington was made in the ship Lady Jocelyn, and such was the excellent work done by Air. Wright in the brief time he had been associated with the Wellington Meat Export Company, that at a dinner held on board the Lady Jocelyn to commemorate the initiation of the frozen meat export trade from Wellington, his health was proposed by tbe late Mr. W. H. Levin (who founded the firm of Levin and Co.).

Later in life Mr. AVright went in for hotel-keeping, and for several years was the lessee of the Cambridge Hotel in Cambridge Terrace. AA’hen he left the hotel, he took up his residence in Mein Street, Newtown, and there he established a lovely garden, so well stocked with horticultural rarities that it became a show-place for people to visit at week-ends. Many old residents may recall visits to that garden to view his botanical rarities, including tlie niglit-bloomiug cactus (which used to droop in the daylight and revive in the darkness).

In 1890 Mr. Wright assisted in the formation of the Wellington Employers’ Association, and in 1593 he established the Commercial Agency, Ltd. Some 43 years ago he spent three months on the Great Barrier Island, with only a Maori chief and his family as company. It was he who pointed out to the Ballance Ministry the wrong that was being done in allowing the kauri trees to be cut down on that island. He also recommended tlie Island as a sanctuary for bird and plant life. Some years ago. Mr. Wright presented his collection of orchids to the botanical gardens. His extensive library is bequeathed to the Turnbull Library. Mr. Wright leaves a wife, and three daughters by previous marriages, Mesdames Quinn and Morton, of Melbourne, and Mrs. Smith, of Paraparaumu. The funeral will leave 117 Mein Street, at 2 p.m. to-morrow. Mr. V. M. Beebe The death has occurred of Mr. VM. Beebe, at the age of 65, reports a Press Association telegram from Christchurch. IVell known in the moving-pic-ture business,, he came to New Zealand 28 years ago as a parachute jumper. Subsequently he imported an American vaudeville company ami later became manager of the Crystal Palace Theatre. He retired nine years ago. Mrs. Nellie Jensen Au early Wairarapa settler, Mrs. Nellie Jensen, wife of Mr. Carl Jensen, who was in her eighty-sixth year, died at Carterton recently. Mrs. Jensen was born in Rennesloef. Sweden, on July 21), 1850, and came to New Zealand bv tlie sailing ship Humbolt in 1875, settling in tlie Wairarapa. she was married at Greytown four years after landing in the country, the ceremony being performed by the late Captain Boyes. For many years Mrs. Jensen was associated with her husband in farming pursuits in the M airarapa. She is survived by her husband, three sons and four daughters. The sons are Messrs. Alfred. Frank and Albert Jensen, and tlie daughters are Mesdamcs Morris, Parkes, Benton and Munns. One son, Robert, predeceased his mother. There are also -16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.