OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 18667, 23 June 1924, Page 2

OBITUARY

Mil JOSEPH ORFORD. The death occurred at Christchurch on Friday of Air Joseph Orford, principal and proprietor of the Waibi. Boys’ School at Winchester, South Canterbury. Air Orford suddenly became ill on Wednesday. He arrived in the dominion thirty years ago, and took up the position as classical master at the Wanganui Collegiate School. After holding tho position tor some time Air Orford decided to start a preparatory school in. South Canterbury. He built tho present school at Winchester, and conducted it very successfully for about twenty years. Very many pupils will learn of their old master’s death with keen regret. The school acted as a preparatory for Christ’s College and tho high schools. Air Orford was a man of unusually high character, and was an M.A. of Cambridge University, whore ho took first class honors and was senior Creek scholar of his year. In his younger days he was a keen athlete, and was a triple blue of Cambridge, taking his colors at rowing, throwing the hammer, and hurdling. Our Christchurch correspondent.

MR. J. J. CONNOR. Mi - John Joseph Connor, who died on Thursday at his residence in North-cast Valley, was one of the old identity printers, for he was born at Sydney in JB;J9, learned his trade in Melbourne, and came to Otago in 1802. Ho went straight up to the Gabriel's Gully diggings, hut shortly returned to Dunedin and became the pressman in tno ‘ Star ’ office. In 187(3 ho entered the employ of Mills, Dick, and Co., in Stafford street. Mr Woodifield was at that time the overseer there, and Mr Win. Reid was the accountant. After about seven years Mr Connor left the trade and tool; over the license oi the Maitland Hotel. Then ho went back to printing, and joined Messrs Woodificld and Jolly in a business that was started in the Octagon. Subsequently ho was associated with. Bishop Moran in publishing the ‘ Tablet,’ and ho managed that company for several years, alter which ho became once more a licensed victualler, and.bad in turn the City and Criterion in Dunedin, also a.n hotel at Riverton. Ho retired from business eighteen years ago. lie will be remembered as one of the-first members of Ht. Joseph’s choir, wherein his wife was a principal singer; and ho took a prominent part in the affairs of tho Dunedin Hibernian Society, of which ho was president in 1875. lie was a very straight man, of pleasant manners, and highly respected by a, wide circle of friends. Mrs Connor has outlived her husband, and there are seven daughters and four sons._ Tho eldest son, John, holds a position in the Government service at Wellington, William, another son, is at Homo as a bnver for Macky, Logan, and Caldwell'

MR. S. H. MATTHEWS. Mr Scoring Hall Matthews, who died I last week in Auckland, had seen that city grow from a small village in 1348, when ho landed from the ship Deborah with his parents, to its present size. His father was Mr E. J. Matthews, who was connected with the Royal Engineers, and directed tho building of Urn Albert Barracks, where tho Park now stands. In his youth Air S’. If. .Mat,Shews joined tho Volunteers in Auckland, and saw service during tho Waikato Wnr at, Otahulm, Drury, ami Pumikura. For some yours he held the position of quartermaster. Eater lie was a lieutenant under Captain (afterwards Colonel) Lyons in the old Hutlami Company. Subsequently Mr Matthews was promoted to captain. After tho termination of the war Air Matthews was for same years superintendent of the .Auckland Volunteer Fire Brigade. For a number of years he Wll; r secretary to a flour-milling firm, and later secretary of the Ostrich Farm Company and several other concerns. Mr Matthews had a long record as a worker in tho Baptist Church, being one of the founders of the Now Zeaand Baptist Union, of which body ho was appointed treasurer. Ho was at one time president of tho Auckland branch of the Sunday School Onion. Tfis wife and an adult family survive him.