OBITUARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15728, 22 September 1911, Page 8

OBITUARY.

REV CANON DUCKWORTH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyr:ght. ■ , ' LONDON, September 20. The death is announced of the Rev lobinson Duckworth, Canon ot Westminster. SIiItOBERT HART. LONDON, September -AIh, death is announced o! Sir Robe**f\£T sjrts: s have elected to g <f „ nat ; onS- His SSSt Hart after passing.through trbus educational institutions m Taunton, Dublin and Belfast, made K vova2o t-o C/hinJi o Sixteen as a secretary in tbo Consular Service. During the first yoai ot In residence in that country he J asi a supernumerary interpreter, held the Superintendency of Trade in Hong Kong and was attached to the British Co •ulate at Ningpo. For the .next five years he filled a number of important Consular and other offices, until, m 1859, he severed Ins connection nrth the British service and entered the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs. Within two years lie was acting as In-spector-General of the Chinese Customs, and was definitely appointed to that responsible post in 18b3. Ho retained the position until his retirement in 1908, carrying out Ins important duties often at great personal risk. During the Boxer outbreak he underwent the siege in the British Legation at Pekin. For forty-five years Sir Robert Hart was undoubtedly a “ power behind the throne. Although, he was gazetted British. Minister Plenipotentiary in 1885, he declined the honour. In mest of tho stirring events which ’have agitated China since tho Taeping rebellion the influence and advice of Sir Robert Hart played an important and frequently invisible part. But they came prominently to the front on occasions when complications arose with foreign States, and a strong hand v&s needed to' 4 * save the face of the Chinese Government. In such critical situations Sir Robert acted not as a European diplomatist engaged in squeezing ” a weaker Oriental Power, but rather as an honest and incorruptible Chinese patriot labouring to defend the interests and uphold the prestige of his native country. The full Bxtent of Sir Robert Hart’s influence and exertions in the civil, financial and military regeneration of his adopted country 7 will perhaps never be known. He married, in 1866, a daughter of Dr Bredon, of Portadowp, and had one eon, who was born in 1873.

COLONEL HAWKINS. DIES SUDDENLY ON GOLF LINKS. Colonel John E. Hawkins, the officer commanding the Canterbury 7 Territorial District, died suddenly yesterday evening on the Shirley golf links. Colonel Hawkins, who seemed to be m excellent health in carrying out his flu ties yesterday, went down to tho iinks • with a friend and was playing with him, when he had. a seizure and fell. It was then about 'half-past five, and there were a few people about. Dr J. Guthrie, who happened to bo playing in the vicinity, was called over, : although the gentleman who sought his ’ aid had no idea that lie was a member of the medical profession. He told Dr Guthrie that lie thought Colonel Hawkins had taken a fit, . but tho doctor, when he reached Colonel Hawkins found that he was expiring, and it was impossible to do anything. The body was brought to the city at once.

An inquest will he held this morning. Colonel Hawkins was recognised as one of the best officers in the service, with which he had been connected for Considerably over twenty years, lie was born in Invercargill, and the greater part of his volunteer service was put in in that district. Ho was in command of a mounted regiment stationed at Invercargill and had charge of the Invorcargill sub-district up to the time of its abolition. About three _ years ago Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins, as he was then, took over the command of the Canterbury district, Bucoeeding Lioutenaiit-Colonel ’ Bauchop, who was transferred to Wellington. He was in command of the troops here when they were reviewed by Lord Kitchener, and was complimented by the Field-marshal on the excellence of the command. When the Territorial system was inaugurated he was promoted to the rank of colonel, and retained charge of his district. Colonel Hawkins was very popular among the officers and men of the district, and he was always regarded as a highly efficient officer. Last evening the receipt of the tragic news at the meeting of the Officers’ Club caused a great shock. The meeting was adjourned at mice. A military funeral will probably tako place on Sunday.

AIR F. R. . FLATMAN. [Per Press Association.] TJAIARU, September 21. Air F. R.. Flatman, formerly member of the House of Representatives for Geraldine, died this morning at his farm at Woodbury. He had been Seriously ill for the last few days.

SYMPATHY 1 IN PARLIAAIENT. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 21. This afternoon .the Prime Alinister -announced Air Flatman’s death with very regret. He outlined Mr Flntman’s local activities on behalf of the community and his work’in Parliament, where he liacl filled the position of Deputy-Chairman of Committees in 1906. -Air Flatman, he added, was held in very high esteem by his fellow-members. Sir Joseph Ward then moved that the House should express regret at Air Flatnian’s death and place on record its appreciation of his services to the country. Air AA’. F. Massey, leader of the Opposition, in seconding the resolution, remarked that Air Flatman, like himself, had ITeen ono of that largo band of new members who had come into Parliament in 1894. He was an enthusiastic agriculturist, and carried a similar enthusiasm into his political work.

Sir William Steward and Alessrs W. Nosworthy and T. Buxton spoko to the motion, which was carried, and the House then adjourned until 7.30 p.m. as a further mark of rcsnect.

The late Frederick Robert Flatman iras a native of Suffolk, England, where he was born in 1843, and was consequently sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death. He was educated at the High House School, Oultuu, and was brought up to farming pursuits. At the ago of nineteen years he decided to seek his fortune abroad, and in January, 1862, arrived in Lyttelton. For some time he followed the usual vocations of the pioneer, engaging in station work, storekoeping and sawmilling. After experiencing the customary vicissitudes of the early settlor, he settled down as a fanner in 1892, having for many years previously carried on a successful storckeeping business at 'Woodbury. For many years lie took a keen interest in local politics, and served his apprenticeship to public life as a member of the Timarn Harbour Board, tho South Canterbury Board of Works and the Geraldine Bond Board. He first essayed to en-

ter the political arena in 1893, when ho stood in the Liberal interest in opposition to Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, who had represented the constituency for two Parliaments in the Conservative interests. The' seat was then known as Pareora. After a strenuous campaign, Mr Flat-man defeated his opponent, and during the succeeding three years worked so well for his constituency and tho dominion that at the general election in 1896 he had little difficulty in again defeating his former . opponent, the seat on this occasion being known as Geraldine. At tho general elections in 1899. 1902 and 1905 lie was again returned at the head of the poll, and in 1906 he was elected Deputy-Cliair-ntan of Committees. At tho general election three years ago he decided to stand for tho Ashburton seat, from which the former Liberal representative, Mr John M’Lachlan, had decided to retire. At the first ballot ho easily defeated his Conservative opponents, Mr W. Noswortliy and Mr David .Tones, but at the second ballot, owing to tho Opposition forces uniting, lie was defeated. It was generally anticipated that he would be a candidate for Ashburton at the coming general election, but during the last twelve months ho had been'in indifferent health, and a few weeks ago lie publicly announced that, in deference to the advice of his medical adviser, ho i.ad decided not to be a candidate. A few days ago he was taken seriously ill, and little hope was hold out for his recovery.