OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 97, 26 April 1932, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. M. J. CROMBIE

FUNERAL LARGELY ATTENDED

With tragic suddenness the death occurred on Saturday of Mr. Melville John Crombie. He had been playing golf on the Miramar links during tlio afternoon, and was in the act of changing his shoes before going home when he fell over -and died. The late Mr. Crombio had lived in ■Wellington nearly all his life, and was well known as a lawyer and as a sportsman, and the sympathy of a wide circle of friends will go out to his widow and two sons. He was born in 1876, and was only fifty-live at the timtvof his death. His father was the late Mr. C. M. Crombie, at one time the Commissioner of Taxes. In 1913 he married Miss Monica Bunny, of Nelson, and two young sons, Frederick and-Andrew, are the only children.

Air. Crombie was educated at. the Marist. Brothers' School in Wellington and at St. Patrick's College, and gained a number of academic distinctions. Since leaving the college he took a' keen interest in the Old Boys' Association, and was only recently elected president of that body. Adopting the profession of law, ,the late Mr. Crombie, who was first of all in the Land and Income Tax Department, joined the Inglcwood legal firm of Malone, Andersoiij and Johnston. From Ingjowood ho came to Wellington to practice on his own account, joining the firm, of Devine and Crombie after the death of the late Mr. J. J. Dovine. Although widely known in, and held in the highest esteem by, the legal profession, it was probably la the realm of sport that the late Mr. Crombie was best known. He v.-as- to a certain extent reserved, but ho made a very wide circle of friends amongst all with whom he came in. contact. In his younger days he was a noted cricketer. At St. Patrick's College he gained his place in the first eleven, chiefly as a Jjatsman. He subsequently joined the Wellington Cricket Club, and during the year 1900 and the following years represented Wellington in matches against other provinces, playing some very valuable innings. Not only as a player did he do service to the game of cricket, but also as aii administrator, and for the latter services he was elected a life member of the Wellington Cricket Association. Rugby football alsojclaimed his interests, and for some years he was the St. Patrick's College Old Boys' Club's delegate, He was a Taranaki delegate to and then a member of the Management Committee 'of the Wellington Bugby Union in the years 1903 and 1904, and was also on the council of the New Zealand Rugby Union. .While still retaining an interest in theseSsports, the late Mr. Crombie during' recent years was an active golfer, in which game he also made his mark. For four years in succession hu was captain of the Miramar Golf Club, and only relinquished that position this year to become vice-president. He was a valued member of the Golf Council of New Zealand in addition. There was no play on the Miramar. links yesterday as a mark of respect to his memory. The deceased was also a popular member of the Wellcsley Club. The Requiem Mass was held'at the Hill Street Basilica this morning, and the building was filled to overflowing. The Rector of St. Patrick's College, Silverstream, was thn celebrant, and the deacon was the Rector of the City St. Patrick's. The choir was composed of clergy. The pallbearers at the Basilieal -were members of the executive of the St.- Patrick's College Old Boys' Association (Dr. P. IF. Mcßvedy, Mr. B. Macarthy, Mr. B. J. Devine, Mr. J. J. Callagner, Mr. D. W. Madden, and Mr. B. O. Cahill), and present scholars of the college lined the approach to the Basilica as the coffin was carried out.

The funeral itself took place at Karori, where the last rites were performed'by the Rev. Father Millighan of Thorndon. The pallbearers at' the graveside were Sir Alexander Roberts and. Mr. G. O. Button (New Zealand Golf Council), Mr. G. H. Didsbury, and Mr. A; E. Mabin (Miramamr Golf Club), and Mr. M. Liickie and Mr. P. B. Broad (Wellington Cricket Association). Many beautiful wreaths were sent, -; . •

At tho Requiem Mass and the funeral there were .present representatives of the following.,1 amongst others:—St. Patrick's College, St. Patrick's College Old Boys Association, Marist Brothers Old Boys' Association, .Sacred Heart Old Boys' Association, Wellesley Club. Crown Law Office, Land and Income rax Department, the Audit Department, the Lands Department, the City Corporation, the New Zealand and Welnf}°n, the Miramar G°« Club, the Wellington Golf Club, the Shandon Golf Club, the New Zealand Golf Council, the Wellington Cricket Association, the Wellington Rugby Union, and, a number1 of other similar .bodies, as well as- the Sisters of Compassion, and pupils of the Seatoun Convent and the Hill Street Convent Amongst those present, several of whom, in addition to being peraonal friends of the deceased, represented various clubs, associations, etc., were:' -Thp Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), Mr. Justice. Blair, Dr. G. Craig, Dr.P F Meßvedy, Mr. A. Gray, Mr. J. J. McGrath,. Mr. H.-F. O'Leary, Mr. C. W. Tnnghaai, Mr. M. Luckie, Mr. L 0 H. Tnpp,.Mr. H. G. Didsbury, Mr. E. Page, Mr.. T. H. Gibson, . Mr. A. J. Toogood, Mr. H. F. ■ Toogood, Mr. C. - Bell, Mr. D. G Johnston, Sir Alexander Roberts,' Colonel R. O. Chesney, Mr. A. D. S Duncan, Mr. W. E. A. Gill, Mr. G. O. Sutton, Mr. -A. F. Mabin, Mr. \V A.' Kiely, Mr..' H. F. Didsbury, Mr. P. Broad, Mr. B. Devine, Mr. E. O. Hales, Mr H. E. F. Aplin, Manor Wilkes, Rev. C. Rooke, Professor Cornish, Mi. E. P. Bunpy,.Mr. N.- J Crombie, Mr. C. G. Collins, Mr P Verschaffelt, Mr. J. Prendeville, Mr. CO Mazengarb, Mr. A. J. Mazengarb, Mr. G. Thorne George, Mr. A. R. Meek, Mr B. A. Whyte, Mr. J. Ward, Mr J Gamble, Mr. W. Gamble, Colonel J Roache, Mr. W. Perry, Mr. J. O'Shea, ■Mr. E. P. Hay, Mr. T. P. Cleajy, Mr. VV. B. Ramey, Mr A; E. Corrigan, Mr H. P. F. Blnndell, Mr. W; W. Cook, Mr. C. A. limes, Mr R. Da.rroch, Mr. A. R. Sclanders, Mr. C. G. Wilson, Mr. A II Bamet.t, Mr. D. O. Whyte, Mr. H. D. Tli oin sou, Mr. T. Brodie, Mr. W. A. Hawkins, Mr.G. Magnus, Mr. H. Pago, Mr. A. H. Hollis, Mr. C. A. Richardson, Mr. A. MeC'abe, Mr. P. J. O'Regan, Mr. h. Mitchell, Rev. Moore, Mr. G. Swan Mr. H. Anderson, Mr. C. E. Stevens. Mr. W. H. Field, Mr.: G. G. Watson, Professor Rankine Brown, Mr. R. Bennett, Mr. C. G. Wilson, Mr. Stanley Feariie, Mr. L. T. Dwan, Mr. T. Dooley Mr. C. Hickson, Mr. T. Parsons, Mr. D. Perry, Mr. A. E. Smith, and Mr. Noel Smith.