OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 139, 9 March 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

Mr. J. H. McAlister

Mr. Joseph Hugh McAlister, J.P., who died recently in Wellington, was, before his retirement, for many years private secretary to various Cabinet Ministers, including the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Sir Joseph Ward, Hon. R. MacKenzie, Sir William Herries, Sir William Fraser, Sir Francis Bell, Sir Apirana Ngata, and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. Even after his Retirement, Mr. McAlister came back for several years on the secretarial staff of 'Mr. Coates. He had probably an unrivalled record in service to distinguished New Zealanders', and though his official associations gave him opportunities to obtain higher officers, his sense ot loyalty influenced him to continue devoting his ability solely to the service of his successive chiefs. He was very highly regarded by Mr. Seddon. Mr. McAlister is survived by four daughters, Mrs. v. b. B. Lambert, Misses Geraldine, Constance and Eva McAlister, all of Wellington, and three sons, Lieut. J Colonel J. L. McAlister, New Plymouth, Mr. Hugh McAlister, Auckland, and Mr. Brian McAlieter, Bank of N.Z., Eketahuna. Mr. McAlister was educated at Dublin University. He came to New Zealand in the early 70’s, and, in 1878, married Miss Constance Alma Stanton, of Nelson, who died in 1936. Mr. McAlister’s first years in New Zealand were spent as a journalist on the West Coast. Later he joined the staff of Brandon’s, Wellington (now Messrs. Brandon, Ward, Hislop and Powles). He was on the Hansard staff, and eventually entered the Civil Service.

Pilot Officer W. J. Fulton

Pilot Officer William John Fulton, aged. 26, whose death on air operations was recently presumed, gained Rugby representative honours when 16. He played for the Grafton and Manukau clubs in Auckland before coming to Wellington, where he joined the Wellington Football Club. Besides being an All Black trialist, he represented Wellington as centre-three-quarters on numerous occasions. He was one of Wellington's leading sprinters and broad-jumpers up till May, 1940, when he entered the Air Force. In 1938 he visited Australia as a member of the New Zealand Police athletic team.

Mr. H. Lysnar

The death has occurred in Gisborne of Mr. Hilton Lysnar, u member of a well-known pioneer family of Poverty Bay. Mr. Lysnar served in the Great War. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Lancaster, Porangahau, and Mrs. Forsyth, Wellington, and one son, Wathen, who is a prisoner of war in Italy.