OBITUARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 183, 4 July 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

REV. J. H. SIAIMONDS.

AUCKLAND, July 3.

Itcv. J. H. Siminonds, for many years principal of the Three Kings Alethodist Theological College and School for Native Boys, died at Takanini on Tuesday. A memorial service was held in the Pitt Street Methodist Church to-day. The service was conducted by the chairman of the Auckland district, Rev. E. D. Patchett, and a brief address was given by the president of the Methodist Conference, Rev. E. P. Blamires. Both paid tribute to the sterling Christian character of their late brother minister. The interment took place later in the afternoon at Purewn.

Mr Simmonds was very well known in religious and (educational circles, and his hook, “Trees From Other Lands: Eucalypts in New Zealand,” lias become a standard work. Mr Simmonds was particularly wellknown throughout New Zealand and Australia as an enthusiastic promoter of afforestation and silviculture. But he was one of the very few men in the Dominion who combined scientific accuracy with wide practical experience in the planting and rearing of trees. From time to time he contributed many articles in the' Journal of Agriculture, and other periodicals. These were largely instrumental in arousing that public interest in forestry which is so widely manifested in tiie country to-day. Mr Simmonds was a native of New Zealand. His parents came to the Dominion in the 40’s, and his early days were spent at Spring Grove, Nelson. He was educated in Nelson and the Canterbury College, and was a school teacher and gold miner till lie became interested in Church work. After ordination in the Alethodist ministry he went to the Fijian mission field, returning to Now Zealand three years later. He was engaged in Alethodist circuit appointments before lie became principal of Three Kings College—a post held by him until his retirement 20 years ago. It was in 18G9 that Mr Simmons joined the Wesleyan Church, and in 1895 lie was elected president of the New Zealand Wesleyan Conference at Nelson, at the same time being appointed to Three Kings College. Air Simmonds was also a member of the Auckland University College Council from 1913 to 1927. He leaves a widow, two sons, Mr H. IC. Simmonds, of Auckland, and Mr J. C. Simmonds, of Te Ivuiti. and three daughters, Airs C. F. Hollinshed, of Brisbane, and Alesdames H. D. Crump and Geo. Fowlds, of Auckland.

The late Mr Simmonds was wellknown to - old residents in Palmerston North and the adjacent districts. From 1875 to 1878 he was in charge of the Rangitilcei-Manawatu Circuit and from 1894 to 1896 superintended the Sanson-Feikling circuit.