OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 88, 11 October 1920, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR. R. M. SIMPSON

Ai private cable message.Teceived to-day announces the death at Plymouth', England, last Friday, of Mr. R. M. Simpson, formerly general manager for New Zealand of the Phcenix Assurance Company, and one of Wellington's most estimable and respected citizens.

The late Ma\ Simpson was born .in Lancaster, England, 77 years ago, and camo out to New Zealand via Melbourne with his family in 1853. He was educated at Wesley College and. Dr. Kii»der's School in Auckland, and commenced his mercantile career with Mr. Strickland*, agent for the White Star Linei in that city. In 1862 ha joined the staff of the Bank of New South Wales, and was in the service for five years. Subsequently ho was engaged' in the sawmilling indiustry on the West Coast of. the) South Island. Rsturning to the North, he spent three years on the Thames goldfields. Soon after leaving thei Thames he went* on a trading voyag« to the South Ssa Islands, and was appointed accountant for the Fiji Banking and Commercial Company at Levuka, a. position be held 1 for tliree years. In 1876 ha returned to Auckland, and entered the service of the 1 New Zealand Insurance Company. His first duty, was to open a -branch for the company at Wanganui. In tha following year he was appointed acting manager for the company at Wellington. Im a short time he was confirmed as manager, and he held the position until 1891, when he resigned to become general manager in New Zealand 1 for the Phoenix Company. He continued to be the latter company's chief executive officer in the Dominion until 1914, and on his retirement he was appointed a director of the company, retaining; his position until 1 his death.

Th« deceased; gentlemanl was one of tha founders of the Wellington Investment Trustee and Agency Company, and was its chairman andl managing director, for a number of years, only resigning thla positions in December last-. He was also a director of the Kelburn and Karori Tramway Company. In his 1 younger days he was a fine) cricloeteir, and on several occasions he took part in representative matches. He was also a good tennis, player, and did much to advance the interests of .the game. By his death tha Masonic community loses one who for years wae one of its most prominent officials.

Mr. Simpson was twice married, his' second wife being a daughter of the late Mr. Gr. Gibson, of Melbourne, formerly manager of the 'Bank of Australasia, in Wellington. The marriage only took place about a year ago. Three or four months ago Mr. and Mrs. Simpson left Wellington for England via Australia. He was then in good health, but on the voyage he contracted influenza.—in addition to which he suffered greatly from the heat in the Eed Sea. He has* left a widow, a son (Mr. Richard Simpson, of Marlborough), and four daughtersMrs. Arthur Young and Mrs. J. C. Peacock, of Wellington, and Mrs. Holl and Mrs. Hobson, both now in London.