OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1181, 2 December 1924, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MRS HELEN McMINN. The . death occurred at Devonport, Auckland, on Saturday of Mrs Helen Mc'iViinn, relict of the late Mr Alexander McMinn, a pioneer journalist in the Manawatu, Wanganui, Wairarapa and Taranaki: districts, and founder of the ‘‘Manawatu Standard.” The deceased lady was born in the North of Ireland, and came to the Dominion at an early age with her parents, who first took up their residence at Wanganui, later moving to Turakina. It was ino this township that the late Mrs McMinn as a young girl passed through the troublous times of the Maori War. She was married to the late Mr McMinn in Wellington about 50 years ago, and shortly after came to Palmerston North, where Mr McMinn established the “Standard” in 1880. For the past 12 or 14 years the deceased lady had resided in Auckland, where her husband predeceased her six years ago. The late Mrs McMinn was held in high esteem by a wide circle of friends, who will regret to learn of her death. Four son 3,. Messrs Alexander McMinn (Palmerston North), Gordon McMinn (Bendigo), ;V Leslie McMinn (Levin) and Garnett McMinn (Gisborne) and one daughter, Mrs R. H. Whalley (Palmerston North), are left to mourn their loss. There are also three sisters and two

brothers of the deceased lady still living. * One son, Mr Archibald MeMinn, of Danenevirke; passed away some time back.

MRS P. TORSTONSON

The death occurred at her late residence this morning of Mrs Petronella Torstonson, of Palmerston North, relict of the lute Mr Nils Torstonson. The deceased lady, who was born in Sweden in 1847, came to the Dominion with her husband over 50 years ago, and had lived in thin district for about' 38 years. Her husband predeceased her in March, 1919. Two sons, Messrs A. and P. B. Torstonson, of this town, are left to mourn their loss, and to them the sympathy of a large number of friends will be extended.

COLONEL R. J. COLLINS. Tho death occurred yesterday at Wellington of Colonel Robert Joseph Collins. G.M.G., 1.5.0. Born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1848, being the eon of the late Captain Robert Collins, the deceased gentleman came to New Zealand and joined the ■Civil Service ‘in 1865. He became first clerk to the Treasury in 1879. secretary in 1906, and controller and auditor-generel in 1910, retiring after 56 years’ service. For many years he was a prominent volunteer and shooting Enthusiast atid was the champion shot of Taranaki in 1874. He was also cornmundant of the New Zealand team which won the Kolapore Cup at Bisley in 1874, and was for many years chief executive officer of the Dominion Rifle Association, while in 1921 he was unanimously elected president of the newly-formed National Rifle Association. He was founder of Rugby football in Taranaki in 1874 and also took a keen interest in bowling, having been president of the Northern Bowling Association in 1910 and of the Dominion Bowling Association in 1916 and 1917. In addition he was president of the Wellington Savage Club in 1910 and of the Orphans’ Club in 1812 and 1913.