OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 9

OBITUARY

Dr. P. T. Putnam

The death occurred suddenly on Wednesday evening of one of ston North’s best-known medical men, Dr. Philip Timothy Putnam, M.D., B.Ch., F.R.A.C.S-, at the age of 64 years, says a “Dominion” Special Service message. For about 3.j years Di. Putnam had practised his profession m Palmerston North with distinction. Surgery was a phase of Dr. Putnam’s professional activities at which he excelled particularly, and his skill was noted throughout New Zealand and even beyond the Dominion. For 30 years Dr. Putnam was an honorary surgeon at Palmerston North Hospital, and on his retirement in 1938 he was appointed an honorary consulting surgeon. On a number of occasions he acted in a relieving capacity, as medical superintendent of the hospital. Bendigo, Victoria, was Dr. Putnam’s birthplace and he received his education there. He took his medical degree at Melbourne University, later having experience in London and Edinburgh following a short residence in Wellington. He was a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. On his return to New Zealand, Dr. Putnam began practice in Palmerston North and remained there except for a period of about two years in which he was attached to the Armed Forces during the Great War. For 10 years from 1923 Dr. Putnam was in partnership with Mr. D. S. Wylie, F.R.O.S. (Eng.). All his life Dr. Putnam was a keen follower of sport. He was a member of the Manawatu Golf Club of long standing, and a life member of the Palmerston North Lawn Tennis Club. Though he had no mean skill with a rifle or a gun, Dr. Putnam’s particular sport was fishing. Since 1906 he had been a member of the Manawatu Racing Club, and served as a member of the committee for a long period. He was also a member and ex-president of the Manawatu Club. Dr. Putnam married in Wellington Miss C. M. Finch, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Finch, Mr. Finch being well known as an inspector of the Bank of New South Wales. There is one daughter of the marriage, Mrs. Ruth Johnston, formerly of Kopane, and now of Kai Iwi, Wanganqi. Two brothers and two sisters of Dr. Putnam reside in Australia. Mr. N. Fulton Mr. N. Fulton, a former chief dairy grader in Wanganui, has died, says a “Dominion” Special Service message. Before going to Wanganui he was employed by the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, and was a dairy produce grader in New Plymouth. Mr. Fulton was appointed chief grader at the Port of Wanganui in 1926, where he remained till his retirement about two years ago. His appointment marked a rise in the status of Wanganui to that of a grading port. A keen Rotarian* Mr. Fulton attended many conferences and was a regular attendant at the Wanganui Rotary Club’s weekly meetings. He was a valued member of the Methodist Church. The late Mr. D. Fulton, Hamilton, who was chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, and a member of the New Zealand Dairy Board, was a brother. Mr. C. Wooster Tlie dentil occurred in Australia recently of Mr. Charles Wooster, aged 101. who fought in the Maori War and was taken prisoner in one of Ihe engagements in the Waikato. His first association with New Zealand was as a member of the crew of a ship which brought a consignment of rabbits from England, where he was born. The voyage to New Zealand was so hazardous with murder and mutiny on the ship that. Mr. Wooster left it and enlisted to tight against the Maoris. He subsequently went to Australia and lived an adventurous life, being associated with gold mining, coastal trad inc. and niinierons ullci' vi-iil ures. Hr is survived by four son.-, one of whmn lius in Ihe Domiuioii.