OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1924, Page 8

OBITUARY

The death of Mr. Henry Hume, which occurred at his residence, 53, Tinakori road, yesterday, removes a- familiar figure from the streets-of Wellington. For many years Mr. Hume was stamp printer at the Government Printing Office, and he also took a keen interest in anything concerning the welfare of the city. The late Mr. Hume was born at Campsie, Scotland, in 1829, and in his early days worked at the calico printing trade. After being employed by well-known printing firms in Glasgow, he decided to come to New Zealand, and he landed at Port, Chalmers in 1863, making the voyage to this country in the ship Silistria. The late Mr. Hume was at first attracted by the West -Coast gold rush, but, realising the- uncertainties of that means of Jivelihood, he soon decided to keep to his trade. In 1865 he joined the Government Printing Office as a pressman, and in little less than a year he. received the position of duty stamp printer. In 1873, when letterpress printing replaced copper-plate printing, he was appointed leading printer, and fn 1890 he was still further promoted to the responsible position of stamp printer. This post he held with distinction until it became necessary for him to retire on 31st December, 1905, after forty years in. the Government service. The late Mr. Hume was one of the original members of the Metropolitan Permanent Building and Investment Society of Wellington, and he was still a director at the time of his death. Mr. Hume, in spite of his .age, remained fairly active until a few months ago, when his health began to fail. Mr. Hume Was twice married, and he is survived by a widow.