OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 105, 28 January 1938, Page 13

OBITUARY

Mr. A. H. Wright I

The death occurred suddenly on Wednesday afternoon of Mr. Arthur Hobbins Wright, a former Commissioner of Police, at his home on Marine Parade, Seatoun. He was 76 years of age, and had been living in retirement since 1925.

lu 1922 Mr. Wright was appointed Commissioner of Police, in succession to Mr. John O’Douovan, who had just retired from the service. Mr. Wright had then been a member of the Police Force for 39 years. He was a native ox Gloucester, England, and was born on April 8, 1861. Coming to New Zealand when a young man, he enlisted as’ a constable at Invercargill iu August, 1882. In November, 1883, he became a member of the clerical staijf of the Invercargill office, and remained there until 1891, when he .was transferred to Dunedin, still on the recording side of the service. In March, 1893, Mr. Wright was made a first-class constable, and appointed district elerk in the inspector’s office at Wellington. He gained his sergeant’s stripes in January, 1893, and in 1905 he received a position in the office of the Commissioner of Police. Commissioned rank came to him in January, 1906, with the status of sub-inspector, and the chief clerkship of the department.

His service at head office continued until March, 1911, when he became an inspector, and was placed in charge of the Thames district. Hamilton was wade the administrative centre of his district in February, 1913, and Inspector Wright stayed there until November, 1915, when he reached the grade of superintendent, and was transferred to Dunedin. From September, 1919, to January, 1922, lie was iu charge of the-Auckland district, and he was then appointed commissioner. He retired on reaching the age limit in 1925, Shortly after his retirement, Mr. Wright’s health became affected, but he maintained an active ixiterest iu the Seatoun Bowling Club, of which he was a prominent member, and twice visited his two sisters iu England, the first trip occupying from June, 1926, to the end of 1927, and the second from 1932 to 1936.

Air. Wright is survived by his wife and two sisters, five sons, Messrs. J. H. Wright (Miramar), P. J. Wright (Seatoun), W. H. Wright (Cambridge), T. W. Wright (Paparoa) and E. W. Wright (Te Aroha), and four daughters, Alesdames A. Hood (Blenheim), J. B. Adams (Seatoun), E. Evans (Seatoun) and R. Sterling (Alatakohe).