OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 198, 19 May 1941, Page 10

OBITUARY

Dean J. C. Darby

Tlie death of the Very Rev. Joseph Croke Darby, one time parish priest at Hamilton, is announced. He was 69. The son of the late Dr. Walter Darby, one of the best known of the early medical practitioners of Auckland, he was born on August 27, 1872. He made his first studies at tlie Marist Brothers’ School, Auckland, and afterward went to St. I’atriek’s College, Manly. Sydney, where lie completed his theological studies for tlie priesthood. On December 19, 1897, he was ordained priest by the late Bishop Lenilmn. His first appointment was to Thames, where, as curate, lie had charge of tlie Ohinemuri district for one year.

At the end of 1898 Father Darby was 1 appointed to St. Benedict’s, Newton, ■ as curate, and at the end of 1901 he was appointed parish priest in Hamil- ! ton. At that time Hamilton included Frankton and Cambridge, but under Father Darby’s administration the parish so developed that both were separated as distinct parishes. During bis term in Hamilton, Father Darby built the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, which stands as his monument, and also the presbytery. In recognition of his services, lie was appointed Dean of the Waikato, in 1916, and was appointed by the late Bishop Cleary as a member of the Diocesan Council, on which ho served for some years. In. 1922. Dean Darby retired from active parish work, and afterward lived in Potisonby, Auckland, where he was well known to Hie parisioners of Sacred Heart Church, in which he said his daily private Mass. More recently he lived on the North Shore. Mr. Albert R. Johns The death occurred recently at his residence in Brooklyn of Mr. Albert 11. Johns, after ff short illness. He was born in 1869 in Cornwall and the following year arrived at Lyttelton. After spending some time farming in Canterbury he came to Wellington more than 60 years ago to work for the engineering firm of S. Luke and Co. In 1911 he started business in the ironfoundry trade under the name of Johns, Wallace, and Muir. Later a new foundry was built in Alpha Street and the business continued till Mr. Wallace’s retirement in 1935. A new company was then formed by two of his sons, and ho took the position of managing director. In his younger days Mr. Johns was an expert physical instructor and one of the original members of the ‘•Roselle Gymnastic Surprise Party,” who were always to the fore in assisting at charitable entertainments. He was also a keen road cyclist and tug-of-war enthusiast. Later he was for many years a vice-president of the Poneke Football Club.

Mr. Johns is survived by one brother, Mr. C. A. Johns, and three sons, Arthur, Reg, and Rod (all of Wellington). There are five grandchildren. His wife predeceased him three years ago.