OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 10

OBITUARY.

MAORI WAR VETERAN.

DEATH OF NONAGENARIAN.

The death is announced at Dargaville of Mr. W. Palmer, in his 9J.st year. He •was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire, [England, in 1833, and was a resident of New Zealand for 62 years. He was an old Maori war veteran, and saw fighting. He leaves one son and three daughters, Mrs. W. M. Lochead, Dargaville; Mrs. A. Johnson, Christchurch; Mrs. W. W. L. Bradley, Helensville; and Mr. A. W. H. Palmer, of Horehore. There are also 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The funeral took, place at Helensville yesterday.

MR. H. B. SIMPSON. The death occurred at the Public Hospital on Monday evening of Mr. Harold Bernard Simpson, only surviving son of Mr. R. J. K. Simpson, of Rimu Road, Remuera, and grandson of Mrs. Richard McGee, of Bassett Road, Remuera. Mr. Simpson, who was only 24 years of ago, was bore at Wanganui and was educated at the Devonport School and the Auckland Grammar School, later joining the service of the Union Steam Ship Company. He served with the Second Battery, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, being woundeel and gassed at Ploegsteert Wood in March, 1917. His eldest brother, Lieut. F. Simpson, was killed in the second drive on the Somme. On returning to New Zealand Mr. Simpson joined the Arahura as purser, a position in whicTT he earned the esteem of the travelling public. He suffered severely from the effects of his wounds, and finally succumbed to his war injuries. He was a member of Lodge St. Andrews, No. 418, of the 'Scottish Constitution. Flags were flown half-mast on the Union Company's offices and vessels in port yesterday as a mark of respect. The funeral will take place this afternoon.

MR. F. K. REEVES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. There died here to-day Mr. F. # K. Reeves, a %vell-known jNew Zealand journalist, at the age of 57. He had suffered from ill-health during recent years. He served his apprenticeship as a journalist in England, and came in 1891 to Wellington, where he took a position on the New Zealand Times staff. At different Himea he was on the staff of the Poverty Bay Herald, the Evening Post, and the Free Lance. For many years he did good work in the press gallery, of which he was on two occasions chairman. He was also president of the New Zealand Institute of Journalists, and chairman of the Wellington branch. He was for a time president of the Catholic Federation, and played a prominent part on the educational side. After leaving the Post in 1921, Mr. Reeves was private secretary to Mr. T. M. Wilford, Leader of the Opposition. He leaves a family, consisting of his widow, and Messrs. Eric J. Reeves, St. Leger H. Reeves. F«b*o» Reeves, Masters Maurice W. and Philippe A. M. Reeves, and the Misses Maisie and Peggy Reeves.

MR. J. H. PARSLOW. Mr. James Henry Paralow, who died in Auckland recently, was a well known rifle shot. Mr. fParalow, who was nearly 70 years of age, lived in Thames during the mining boom. In 1885, he won the Carbine Belt, and four years later won the Rifle Belt.- Mr. Parslow was a member of the Akarana Rifie Club, and also of the rifle team of' the old "A" Battery, when that team included some of New Zealand's best rifle shots. In later life Mr. Parslow was caretaker of tiis Drill Hill at Auckland. He leaves a widow and a grown-up family.

. CAPTAIN THOMAS DAVIS. The death occurred at . his residence, Nairn Street, Wellington, last week, of Captain Thomas Joseph Davis, who was for many years in the Treasury Department, and who was particularly well known in military circles throughout the Dominion. The late Captain Davis was the son of a soldier who served in the Maori War. He was born at Wellington Barracks seventy-one years ago, and he had been connected with the military forces of the Dominion since he was eleven years old. When a boy he desired to serve as a drummer in the Maori War, tut his age went against him. He was one of the original members of the Wellington City Volunteer Rifles, and quickly rose to the rank of colour-ser-geant. He repeatedly declined higher promotion, and was content to be in a position where he could coach his squad in rifle-shooting, rifle exercises, and physical drill. He was able to impart to those under him a measure of his own enthusiasm, with the result that his teams bqcame almost unbeatable in military exercises, and on more than one occasion defeated the Royal - Marines. When the Volunteers were abandoned, ho expressed a desire to retire', but was induced to accept the rank of honorary captain and quartermaster to the sth, Wellington, Regiment, now known as* the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment. He served in that capacity for several years, and when war broke out he was made adjutant of the sth, Wellington, Rogiment, and agreed to act without remuneration. For many years he had been a prominent member of th e Dominion Rifle Association, and had the honour of acting as camp quartermaster at the first meeting held by the newly-formed National Association, which concluded at Trentham a week ago.

MR. J. H. MEYER. [BY TEXBOBAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDBNT. ] WELLINGTON. Tn««Ja3r. The death, is announced of Mr. J H Meyer, the well-known Wellington builder and contractor, who has been actively engaged hero for nearly half a century Among the more notable structures built' by him are His Majesty's Theatre, P, Hayman and Company's warehouse. Pipitea No. 1 Harbour Board shed, Technical Training College, W. M.' Bannatyne and Company s warehouse, the Hotel Cecil, and the Occidental Hotel. Mr. Meyer also erected substantial buildings at Levin, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Pahiatua, and Featherston. Ho also constructed district r ° f bridge " in the WeUJa Mr. Meyer is survived by a widow and three sons Messrs. F. H- and J H Meyer (Wellington), and Mr. G. Meyer (Taomarunui) and five daughters, Mrs. W Hhngworth (Oamaru), Mr*. J.' Croft Jw,M nV M e) ' Mrs. W. Minnitt (Christchurch , Mrs. H. Mowbray (Auckland) and Mrs. C. Brown Chingford (England)!