OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10036, 24 January 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

Avery sudden death occurred at Ponsonby on January 14, when Mr. John Wakefield "passed away at his rosidenco- in Sarsfieldstreet, shortly after eight o'clock. Deceased, who was of an unusually bright and nbpeful disposition, had enjoyed excellent health until Sunday, Jan. 12, when he complained of not feeling very well, He obtained medical advice and attention, bub his friends did not regard his illness as in any way serious. All day on January 14 he was quite cheerful, and though still in the hands of Dr. Oirdler, his state of health did not cause his friends any grave anxiety. About half-pasb eight o'clock he went to lie down, but hardly had he reached his room when he had a sudden seizure, and almost immediately died quietly and peaceably owing to failure of the heart's action. Mr. Wakefield was 30 years of age, and has been in the colony about ten years. He was bom at Kendal, in England, where his relatives are proprietors of a well-known banking institution. About two years ago deceased married the eldest daughter of Mr. W. 0. Bruce, of the Herald reporting staff, and leaves ono child. Very general sympathy will be felt for Mrs. Wakefield in her sad bereavement, for the deceased gentleman had a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, among whom he was deservedly popular, for his many sterling qualities. Sister Mary Magdalen Maney, who died at the Thorndon 'Convent, Wellington, on January 10, came to the colony in 1851, and at the ago of 16 devoted herself to the cause of the education of Maori girls, for whom Governor Grey had built the "Providence' attached to tho Convent. Shu spent 45 years in tho service of like good works in St. Mary's Convent, having stood high in the estimation of the late Bishop Viard, whom she attended on hit deathbed. Sho will bo long regretted by the Catholics of Wellington, among whom are many mothers of families who found in her an able instructress in youth and a friend and adviser in their late years. Deceased was buried ab Karori, a largo assemblage following her to the grave, where the Very Rev. Father Dawson read the burial service. Many of our readers will be grievod to hear of the death of the Rev. Fletcher Halliday Long, which occurred on Dec, 29 ab the Hamilton West Swimming Baths. Mr. Long had just come out of the water and was in the act of drying himself in ono of the rooms of the pavilion when he broke a blood vessel, and vomited blood freely. Dr. Brewis was at once sent for, and was on the scene within a few minutes, but was only able to pronounce that the unfortunate gentleman was already dead,_ Mr. Long, who was suffering from phthisis and had been in a delicate state of health for some time, was on a visit to his brother, Mr. J, F. Long, postmaster at Hamilton. Tho deceased gentleman was 49 years of age and was a clergyman of the Church of England. Mr. Long in early life was a printer, and served his apprenticeship at tho New Zealandor office. Deceased was tho son of the Rev. Joseph Long, who was one of the first ministers of the Primitive Methodist connexion in Auckland.and who in his day exercised considerable influence in this community. \Ve regret to have to chronicle the death of one of our oldest and most respected citizens, Mr. Kirby Redgment Andrews, who died at his late residenco, Albertstreet, on Dec. 29, ab tho age of 71. Defeased arrived here in the ship Arithnesia 43 years ago. The wife of a Wellington contractor died early last weok, and the body was buried on Jan. 16 in a bed of concrete at Karori Cemetery. Theftgrave was dug about eight inches larger and deeper than usual, and a thick layer of concrete put down on the bottom, on to which the coffin was lowered. After the burial service had been read concrete was filled in all round, and on the top, thus making one solid block of stone with the coffin resting in the centre. Interments carried out on this plan, it is contended, might take place in any kind of soil at any depth, and even in the heart of a city, without the slightest possible danger to the health of the community. So far as is known, the burial on Jan. 16 under the conditions stated, was the first of its kind. Deceased's husband holds strong views on sanitation questions, and the unusual interment was in keeping with an agreement made some ten years ago with another well-known citizen to the effect that when a death occurred in either family the other should see to the burial in a bed of concrete.

The remains of the late Mr. G. A. Wilkinson, who died at Mount Eden on January 14 of consumption, were inturred on the 16th of January. The deceased, who was well known in the Mount Eden district, is a son of the Rev. Wilkinson, of the London Missionary Society, at present occupied in mission service in India, and came to the colony for the sake of his health. He was considerably under thirty years of age. The monument) in memory of the stewardesses who lost their lives in the Wairarapa while performing their duties, is now in position in the Dunedin Northern cemetery, and occupying an angle at the main entrance, is the first to meet the eye of the visitor. It is of white marble on a granite base, and bears the following inscription :— "In memory of Charlotte McDonald, Annie Macquaid, and Lizzie Grirarod, stewardesses, who were drowned in the wreck of the s.s. Wairarapa, Great Barrier Island, 29th October, 1894. Erected by the stewardesses in the U.S.S. Company's service." At the foot of the granite an achor shaped wreath of roses and forget-me-nots has been laid. The whole of the money was collected by the stewardesses.

The body of Mr. A. Bray (one of those drowned at the wreck of the Wairarapa), which was interred in St. Peter's Churchyard, Onehunga, is to be taken up and sent over to Sydney for interment. It may be remembered that the deceased was supposed to be a son of Mr. J. Rray.Onehunga, the result being that the body was taken there.

Tho death is announced in Invercargill, at tho age of 76, of Mr. Thomas Williamson Hall, one of tho early settlers of South Canterbury, and a brother of Sir John Hall. The son of a well-known family of shipowners and shipmasters at Hull, the deceased was educated in France and Germany, and at the age of 16 went to sea, becoming an owner and master on his own account at an early ageIn 1852, with his wife and two young children he set sail for Now Zealand. The ship Mahommed Shah was burned off tho Australian coast, but all on board were saved. Mr. Hall first took up a run on the Rakaia, and later on was one of tho pioneer of the Mackenzie country. He afterwards took up bis residence in Timaru, bub some years ago he removed to Invercargill to be near his sons. In South Canterbury he took great interest in local affairs, and was a member of several of the local bodies, including the Timaru Harbour Board. His wife,. two years her husband's senior, still survives, and there is a family of several grown up sons. Mr. W. F. Downes, late manager of the Wanganui branch of the Bank of New South Wales, died on January 1. He had been in failing health for some time past. Our Otahuhu correspondent writes :- Mr. Charles Goodwill, one ol the oldest inhabitants of Otahuhu, passed away somewhat suddenly on Tuesday morning, the 3lsb of December. Mr. Goodwill has been in business in Otahuhu,- as wheelwright, coachbuilder, and blacksmith, ever since 1854. He was highly respected as an upright, industrious man. Mrs. G. R. Russell, aged 71— a vory old resident of Wellington, and mother of Mr. G. W. Russell, M.H.R., and Mr. T. G. Russell, solicitor, of Christchurch—died on January 4, Another death caused by the constant inhaling of battery dust has occurred at Waihi, the latest victim being Mr. Alfred Dance. ' Deceasod was about 36 years of age, and leaves a wife and threo children to mourn their loss. Mr. Dance had been employed in the Waihi Company's battery for tho past two years, and was altogether only ten days seriously ill before ho succumbed. This, it appears, makes the fifth death in the Ohinemuri district from the inhaling of battery dust. ,