OBITUARY

Northern Advocate, 16 June 1947, Page 6

OBITUARY

Mr Ho vors d@ Velde

(P.A.)

WELLINGTON. This Day

The dqath has occurred suddenly in New York, after a short illness, of Mr .Henri van de Velde, a leading figure in [Australian commercial circles. Mr van de Velde had been managing director of Felt and Textiles of Australia. Ltd, since 1924 and in 1925 introduced the wool and felt manufacturing industry into Australia.

Mr van dc Velde was also joint managing director of Felt and Textiles (New Zealand) Ltd, and director of a number of other companies iw—Australia. including Bradford Cotton Mills. Ltd. and Burlington Mills (Australia), Ltd.

He was born in Belgium but came to Sydney as a child and spent all his life in Australia. As a young man he was an outstanding athlete. He was a good heavyweight boxer and Jack Johnson sparred with him when he was training for the world heavy-weight championship fight in Sydney. In 1903 he played Rugby football for New South Wales as centre threc[quarter against the All Blacks, his opposite number in the New Zealand team being the famous W. J. Wallace. In later life Mr van de Velde was ,'well-known for his keen- interest in gardens and his mountain home at Leura. New South Wales, was celebrated for its natural scenic beauty and '■rare collection of shrubs and trees.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Miss Bcrtille van de Velde and Mrs P. Gilkes, and a son. Mr Clement van de Velde, of Durban, South Africa.

A member of the Hansard staff of the House of Representatives «ince 1900 and Hansard supervisor since 1335, Mr M. D. Gillon will retire this month. He was born in Wellington in 1879, and was a son of the late Mr E. T. Gillon. a former editor of the Evening Post. He will be succeeded by Mr J. L. Higgle, who is at present assistant supervisor.