DIED IK HARNESS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 247, 26 October 1907, Page 5

DIED IK HARNESS.

-♦ A Sudden Summons, Many of tho leading business firms in Palmerston North, and more especially those concerned with soft goods, received' a painful shock yesterday moraine wln«n the news quickly soread that t?te genial and always welcome representative of the Kaiapoi Woollen Co., Mr W. J. Walloon, had breathed his last. The veteran and much-esteemed C.T. had been spending the week here doing business for his firm, having arrived from Wellington on Monday last, and pat up at his usual quarters, the Club Hotei. Yesterday shortly after breakfast, at which he appeared in his usual bright and cheerful spirits, he went to his sample room at the rear of the hotel and kept an appointment with a customer. There he cornplained of feeling unwell, and decided to return to the house, expressing his intention of going to lie down, He was noticed passing through the passage by one of the hotel employees, but he made no response— a very unusual thing for him—vvhen spoken to. Shortly after he had entered a sitting room on the ground floor a thud was heard. Mrs Tucker and another lady went to the room, and found Mr Salmon lying prome on the floor face downwards. They immediately raised the prostrate form and loosened his collar Mr Tucker was quicklv called, and he at once saw that the case was serious. Mr Salmon returned to consciousness, and in answer to Mr Tucker's inquiries replied, " I want to take a big deep breath, but cannot." Questioned again as to whera was the trouble, the source was pointed to by the hand across the heart.

Mr Hood, chemist, was immediately summoned by a messenger and Dr O'Brien by 'phone, and a motor car despatched to meet the latter who arrived only a few minutes later. The efforts at resuscitation proved unavailing and the end came very quickly and verv quietly. The late Mr Salmon was one of the old school in years but not in ways or ideas. A quarter of a century is a long innings on the road for one firm, and that was the length of Mr Salmon' s association with the Eaiapoi Co., pre nous to which he was travelling fur Messrs Thompson and Shannon, of Wellington.

In the Empire City the deceased was, in his younger days, very prominent in the cricket field, being a fine batsman, and during many seasons was one of the most consistent run getters in the Wellington Representative eleven. Yesterday morning at 9 o'clock he could claim to have scored 61 not out. An hour later his wicket was laid low by a ball that he did not see leave the bowler's hands. Not only was the late Mr Salmon a keen cricketer in his day, but all branches of sport appealed to him, and in later years his favorite pastime was found on the bowling green, where he again excelled and represented Wellington on many occasions.

Each week end the deceased was wont to make back to Wellington, where on the Terrace he had a home in the truest sense. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of three, two sons and a daughter. The elder son, Mr Percy Salmon, follows in his father's footsteps, and is New Zealand representative for the well-known firm of Messrs Faudel, Phillips, Ltd. (fancy goods), while the younger, Mr B. L. Salmon, is attached to the Wellington staff of Mows Benjamin and Co. The daughter, Mrs Rudman, is the wife of Mr Rudmaa, a master at Wellington College.

JDr O'Brien issued a certificate as to the cause of death, heart disease, and consequently no inquest will be necessary. Mr Percy Salmon and Mr Bowie, manager of the Wellington branch of the Kaiapoi Company, arrived in Palmerston laet night, and will take the remains to Wellington by this evening's train. The funeral will take place at Wellington to-morrow.