OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 23886, 16 May 1941, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR W. B. STEEL Highly esteemed anil respected for his service to the community in general find for his geniality of manner. Mr \V. H. Steel, one of Dunedin’s prominent citizens. died yesterday from a heart attack. He was in his seventy-eighth year and was particularly well known because of his work as secretary of the Otago Expansion League and for Druidism and the friendly society movement generally. Mr Steel was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to New Zealand about 45 years ago. In 1913 he became Grand President of the United and Ancient Order of Druids, and, succeeding the late Mr David .Larnach as Grand Secretary of the U.A.O.D. in 191 G, ho held that office until his death. In addition to his work in the Druids’ order, ho was prominently associated with the Masonic Order, being at one time secretary of Lodge Celtic No. 477 and of the District Grand Lodge of

Scotland, being elected District Grand Master of the Scottish Freemasons in January of this yoar._ A few years ago ho represented the New Zealand Scottish Freemasons at a convocation held in Scotland. Mr Steel was secretary of the Forbury School committee for a period, and on his retirement was presented by the householders with an inscribed gold watch in recognition of his meritorious services. In the early years of the last war, Mr Steel became'secretary of the Otago Expansion League and held office at the time of his death. He was a doughty champion of tho cause of the back country of Otago and also collected important data in the agitation for the construction of tho Haast Pass road, which movement was eventually crowned with success. Mr Steel also gave his ardent support over a period of years in the agitation for Dunedin’s new post office. Ho had full scope for his executive ability as secretary of the Expansion League, and further evidence of his ability in this direction was shown by his organisation of the Otago Court at tho New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in 1925-26. He was the local agent for the Government art unions. “Mr Steel was very widely read and revealed his versatility by contributing weekly articles to the * Evening Star,’ which' were illumined by a quaint humour and gentle irony. He was also an accomplished public speaker and was well versed in early British history. He is survived by his wife, one son, Mr R. D. Steel (who is private secretary to the Minister of Marketing) and two daughters, Misses Dorothy and Mary Steel. MR J. B. GRAHAM fPcs United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 16. The death has occurred of Mr James Buchan Graham, manager of the Otahuhu Railway Workshops. He was born in 1884, and educated at Lawrence. Mr Graham was an Otago representative forward, and toured California and Australia. He leaves a wife and throe sons.