DEATH OF MR. GASQUOINE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1914, Page 2

DEATH OF MR. GASQUOINE

♦ — The many friends in Wellington of Mr. William C. Gasquoine. late General Manager of the State Coal Mines Department, received a 2»infid shock when they learned this morning that he had passed away at liis residence in Hill-sfcreet after a short illness. The djceased, who was very popular, was born at Maryborough, Victoria, in 1860, and when six years of age canie to New Zealand with his parents. For several years lie resided in Charleston where his father was in business. In 1874 he entered the. office of his uncle Mr. Martin Kennedy, at Greymouth, and in 1885 he was sent to Wellington to take up the duties of assistantmanager of the Brunner Coal Company's branch in this city. The business was' afterwards amalgamated with that of the Westport Coal Company, and Mr. Gasquoine was then appointed local manager of the branch, retaining the position until ho and another acquired the business, which they sold to the State Coal Department in April, 1906. Mi. Gasquoine managed the Department's depot here for some time and was then, on the retirement of the late Mr. Alexander Macdougall, managing agent, appointed General Manager for New Zealand. Owing to a rearrangement of offices, he retired from that position on the first day of last month, with 'three months' leave of absence. The deceased gentlemam had suffered from an affection of the heart for a considerable time, but his condition only became serious a few days ago. On Monday last he felt unwell and took to his bed. but was well enough to leave it on Wednesday morning. In -the evening he again complained of feeling ill and he died at ono o'clock this morning. He was a director of tho Wellington Opera House Company, J. Slaples and Co., Ltd., and the Empire Box Company, a prominent member of the Thorndon Catholic Parish, and he also belonged to the Thorndon Bowling Club, the Orphans Club, and the Savage Club. He has left a widow (a daughter of the late Mr. ,T. L. Kimbell), and a family of four sons and two daughters. His eldest son is Lieutenant Charles Gasquoine, now with the Expeditionary Force at Samoa, and the second son is in the engineering works of the Union Company at Evans Bay. The funeral will take place at <J a.m. 10-morrow.