OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 99, 20 January 1939, Page 10

OBITUARY

Dr. J. S. Maelaurin

FORMER DOMINION ANALYST

A former Dominion Analyst and Chief Inspector of Explosives, Dr. J. 8. Maclaurin, D.Sc., F.C.S., died in Wellington yesterday at the age of 75. Hr. Maelaurin, who retired from the Government service in March, 1931, after 29 years’ employment, had a distinguished career.

He came out from England with his parents at an early age and wirs educated lit Auckland Grammar School and Auckland University College. He graduated B.Sc.. with first-class honours in chemistry, and because of the excellence of his chemical work wa s elected a Fellow of the Chemical Society, London, the first New Zealand graduate to oe so honoured. He was also awarded the 1851 Exhibition Scholarship, tenable in Great Britain, but, not wishing to go abroad, he relinquished it, and it then fell to Mr. E. Rutherford (the late Lord Rutherford). In 1897 he gained the degree of doctor of science for a thesis on' the solution of gold in cyanide. This has since become a classic, quoted in all text-books on metallurgy of gold. He also demonstrated that the presence of oxygen derived from air was necessary for the solvent action which formed the basis of many improvements in the cyanide process. Incidentally, at least £40,000,000 worth of gold is won each year from gold-bearing ores by the cyanide process.

After some years of private practice in Auckland he joined rhe Mines Department in 1901 irs successor to Mr. W . Skey. Work for Police and Health Departments was also undertaken, then for Customs, and finally the scope of the laboratory was increased till every Government department desiring chemical work, except that of agriculture, was included. Control was transferred to the Department of Internal Affairs, and later, on the formation of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department, to that department. In common with the Mines Department, Dr. Maelaurin took an active interest in safety in mines regulations. In conjunction with Dr. Makgill and Dr. Frengley, he had much to do with the framing of the foods and drugs regulations. In 1909 he took over the administration of the Explosives and Dangerous Goods Act. In 1925 he was appointed chief gas examiner and undertook the framing and admiuistra-'-tion of gas regulations in conjunction with the Department of Industries and Commerce. He was consulted by many Government departments on scientific questions. His chemical researenes included dried milk, composition of mineral waters, radium, contents of springs in Rotorua and Taupo, and kauri gum. Dr. Maelaurin refused various offers to enter industrial life, preferring to remain in Government service. In his retirement he carried out investigations into flax. He is survived his his wife, two sons— Drs. Colin and William Maelaurin—and two daughters, one of whom is the wife of the Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, Wellington. Mr. W. C. Robinson A former secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. W. C. Robinson, died in Wellington yesterday at the age of 64. The eldest son of the late Mr. Charles Robinson, at one time Officer in Charge, Parliament Buildings, Mr. Robinson was born in Wellington and received his primary education at the Mount Cook Boys’ and Newtown Schools. Mr. Robinson joined the Department of Agriculture as a tern-' porary clerk in March, 1895, and in October,' 1901, was appointed to the permanent staff, taking up the position of Registrar of Brauds in Auckland. He was promoted to the position of Divisional Clerk of the Livestock and Agriculture Division in January, 1907, and Acting Chief Clerk in Slay, 1909, being'confirmed in the position six months later. He was later appointed manager of show exhibits and publisher of departmental publications.

On April 1, 1929, he succeeded to the position of Secretary of the Department, and held that office till his retirement in June, 1938, because of ill health. As a young man he was interested in the volunteer movement, and had held a commission in the Devonport Naval Submarine Miners. He was also a bowler. For a number of years he had taken an active interest in Freemasonry, and had held office as Master of Lodge Waterloo. <

He is survived by his wife, three sons, Messrs. L. R. Robinson (Christchurch), C. W. Robinson (Dunedin),

and G. R. Robinson (Wellington), and one daughter, Mrs. K. C. Akers (Wellington).

Mr. George Law

A well-known resident of Eastbourne and a member of the Old Comrades Association, Mr. George Law, died recently. Born in Little Houghton in Nortnamptonshire in 1857, Mr. Law came to New Zealand in 1874, landing at Napier. Shortly afterward he joined the Armed Constabulary and took part in the campaign on the East Coast. He had many stirring tales to relate of these early days and of the long Irek made by his detachment from the. East Coast to Taupo, when each man carried a 501 b. pack and one river was crossed no fewer than 48 times. Mr. Law saw service also in Taranaki, and was a member of the expedition to Parihaka in 1881. Subsequently he joined the permanent forces and was attached to Colonel Messenger’s staff in Wellington. Upon his retirement Mr. Law lived in Eastbourne, where he became an enthusiastic horticulturist. He was patron of the Eastbourne Rugby Football Club since its inception, for many years a trustee of Court Robin Hood, Ancieut Order of Foresters, and a life member of the Eastbourne branch of the Labour Party. The funeral took place in Karori, and the pall-bearers included several members of the Old Comrades’ Association. Mr. Law is survived by his widow, and two daughters by his first wife. His only son was killed in the Great War. Mr. F. L. Hartnell The death ocurred yesterday morm ing of Mr. Frank Locke Hartnell, aged 64, who was well known throughout the Dominion for his work for the Returned Soldiers’ Association and national rifle shooting. He was also one of New Zealand’s leading croquet players. Only last week Mr. Hartnell won the North Island open croquet championship and, with Mrs. Morgan again as partner, retained the doubles championship. Croquet Players’ Tributes. Keen regret was expressed yesterday in Palmerston North where the New Zealand championship tournament is in progress, at the death of Mr. Hartnell, mid play was adjourned for half an hour as a mark of respect, says a "Dominion” Special Service message. Players assembled and a motion ot sympathy with bis relatives was carried insilence. Mr. R. W. McCreath, president of the New eZirland Croquet Counch, paid a tribute to Mr. Hartnell’s fine qualities ahd said that the game baa lost a brilliant player and sterling gentleman. It was known in -Palmersipn North that he had suffered a stroke, bur only yesterday a telegram was received from him stating that lie was slightly better and wishing the tournament success. The Rev. J. M. Devenish

For many years associated with the Anglican Church in the Upper Hutt district, the Rev. J. M. Devenish died recently in New Plymouth at the age-of 82 years. In October, 1887, a few mouths before the jubilee of Queen Victoria, he was appointed to the charge of Upper Hutt and Pahautanui. His parish was wide and among the centres to which he ministered were Wallaceville, Mangaroa, and Pakurataki. He was in charge for nearly’ two years and was then transferred to Pahautanui. where he laboured for many years. After good service in many other centres he retired to New Plymouth, his birthplace, and lived there till his death. His work in the Upper Hutt district, where all travelling was done on horseback, is mentioned in a pamphlet written in 1935 by the Rev. G. V. Kendrick under the title “Record of events in the history of the Parochial District of Upper Hutt.” In those days it was a great sawmilling centre and a difficult charge for any parson.