OBITUARY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1911, Page 5

OBITUARY.

A WELL-KNOWN JOURNALIST,

[by telegraph—peb press association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.—George Hart, one of the best known New Zealand pressmen, died suddenly td-day.' ' The news of the death of George Hart,, one of the oldest and most respected journalists in New Zealand, brings back to the mind of the writer the pioneering days of the Canterbury settlement, wlien Mt Michael Brennan Hart arrived in the ship Cressey on December 16th, 1850, bringing his son, who soon after became connected with the late J. E. Fitzgerald and at once showed his ability as a rising journalist to such an extent that he was sent for to take up a good position on the Adelaide Observer. He there learned journalism and from then till now has been at the top of the tree. More particularly so has this been the case in matters musical and theatrical, as he has been a genial critic of every company which has ever toured New Zealand, has a record of the performances of every singer - or artist since the Christchurch Press was established. In fact, it may safely bis said that no journalist can. possibly hope to have the record that our departed friend carries with him. His loyalty: to the Christchurch Press ever, since its inception in a small cottage building in Cashel Street over fifty years ago is a proof not only of the respect in which he was held by the management and this editorial staff, but also a standing record of services faithfully rendered, for without George Hart at the head of the reporting staff of the Press "it could never have attained the position it has nOw secured as one of the leading journals, of the Dominion. He has not alone been loyal to the paper which will so miss big untiring services, but to evefy member of the theatrical community, as his name was a household word > with them, and when he criticised them they knew full well that he had only done his duty as a critic. ‘

It is only a few months since that his eldest son, who lie prided himself on arid looked forward to a worthy successor, died in a similarly sudden way, and his loss may in a great measure be due to the sudden death of his father.

The regrets at the loss of so worthy- a man as George Hart will be universal, but in Canterbury, where he has been mainly the prime mover in the Early Colonists’ Association, his death will be most Keenly felt, as there is no one who has possession of the particulars of the early arrivals as he had. He used to at one time deliver lectures on the early days of Canterbury >ll over the district, and these lectures were eagerly listened to and appreciated by the rising generation and more, so by the oldest settlers, whose memories were reminded of their early experiences.