MR. MICHAEL BENNEY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 13

MR. MICHAEL BENNEY

The death occurred in Wellington on Monday at the age of 80 of Mr. Michael Augustus Benney, of Halston Road, Mount Eden, Auckland. Mr. Benney, who had been prominent in Masonic circles for many years, was returning to Auckland after attending a meeting of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand in Christchurch.

Born in Cornwall, Mr. Benney served for some years in the Royal Navy. He came to New Zealand as a young man and was employed in the Railway. Department as a ticket inspector. He seryed in various parts of New Zealand, principally in Auckland and Wairarapa. He retired shortly before the Great War, but returned to the service between 1914 and 1918 in a relieving position. He was secretary of the Retired Railway Servants' Association for several years.

Mr. Benney celebrated the 50th anniversary of his initatipn into Freemasonry in March, shortly after his 80th birthday. He held numerous offices during his association with this Order. He was Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand in 1894 and Grand Bible Bearer in 1918. In 1927 he was appointed Past Grand Warden. In the Royal Arch Masonry he held the rank of Past Grand Sojourner. In October he was installed as Preceptor of* the Southern Cross Preceptory of the Knights Templar. He was secretary of Ara Lodge, No. 1, from 1923 to 1932. He was later elected an honorary member of Ara Lodge, No. 1, and of Lodge Morningside, No. 228, and he represented the latter lodge at the grand lodge meeting in Christchurch.