OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18579, 11 December 1923, Page 10

OBITUARY.

CAPTAIN H. W. NDRTHOROFT.

SOLDIER AND MAGISTRATE.

Captain Henry William Northcroft (New Zealand Cross), for many years stipendiary magistrate in New Zealand, and later Chief Justice and Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands, died at Auckland yesterday at the age of 77. He had a distinguished military career during the Maori wars, and was decorated for bravery on the field. ' '■'-.■

Captain Northcroft was born in Essex, England, and was the son of the late Mr. William Northcroft, who arrived in New Zealand in 1851 in the ship Cresswell. He was educated at New Plymouth and later at Nelson. He joined the volunteers at the age of 14, and saw a great deal of service of a very dangerous nature. He soon gained a reputation for being one of the bravest men in the service, and was 50 times under fire, without receiving a wound. For 18 years he saw active service in Taranaki, and written histories of those stirring days record throe exploits of his, in which he rescued comrades under extremely heavy fire. In recognition of these and other acts displaying immense courage and resource, Captain Northcroft was recommended for tho Victoria Cross, but owing to it being ruled that the decoration was not at that time available for colonial troops, the Cross could not be awarded him. He was, however, subsequently awarded the New Zealand Cross, one of the world's rarest military decorations. Regarding one of the incidents for which Captain Northcroft was recommended for decoration, it was stated in despatches that during an attack on Pungarehu, in October, 1366, Ensign Northcroft, as he then was, " did, with great bravtiry, and at the risk of his life rescue SsrgeantMajor Duff,, who was mortally wounded and helpless, from the enemy; also, at the attack upon. Tirotiro Moana, in November, the same year, Mr. Northc<of: being on that occasion in front in the bush with Private Economedes, were met by the enemy, who fired and killed the latter, Mr. Northcroft held his ground till assistance came up, preventing mutilation, of the body, and the capture of the carbine and revolver, besides a considerable sum of money the man had on his person." On another occasion, in tha Qierewa Country, Captain Northcroft had to swim a river at high flood and walk three mites, naked, in the middle of winter, to obtain assistance, for which he was thanked and complimented by his commanding officer on parade. Upon the conclusion of peace, Captain Northcroft received some experience of mining at Thames, but in 1877 he was appointed resident magistrate Tor the Waikato district, and later goldfields T'lrden and magistrate at the Thames. In 1892 he was appointed stipendiary magistrate at Auckland. At later dates, he held magisterial positions at Wanganui, Masterton, and again in the Waikato, with Hamilton ad his headquarters, Ha retired from the magistrate's' Bench in 1909, and in 1913 was appointed Chief Justice and Resident Commissioner of (he Cook Islands, which position' he held until December, 1915, when failing health necessitated his return to New Zealand. During this period he drafted the Cook Islands Act, which is now in force, and inaugurated the present schools system. He also instituted: the experimental agricultural plantation in Rarotonga. Since 1915 he has lived in retirement at his home in Epsom. For the last six months he had been practically confined to his bed. '

Captain Northcroft is survived by His wife, who was Miss Margaret Henderson, of Kihikihi, one son, Mr. Luther Northcroft, civil engineer, San Francisco, and two daughters, Dr. Hilda Northcroft, of Auckland, and Mrs. J. G. Wynyard, of Te Awamutu. A second son, .Mr. H. C. Northcroft, solicitor, of i Auckland, was IrillAd at Gallipoli. '■'.. The funeral will take place to-morrow morning." .;.< ■'-' ■ y'.'■■';■■;' '■■•■ "-'r : ~. ■■ .-*-; ■■£, ~

MR. GEORGE VAUGHAN. Mr. George Vaughan, of Long Bay, Takapuna, died last -week at his residence after a very short illness. There was a large gathering of friends and relatives at his funeral, which took place at Albury. Mr. Vaughan arrived in the Takapuna district , over 60 years ago, i accompanying his father and sister. The Vaughan family took up the block of land situated on the outer harbour front and the south bank of the Okura River, where three generations have \ successfully carried on sheep and cattle farming. Mr. Vaughan had just attained his 80th year and retained his mental and physical powers up to within a few days of his death. He is survived by Mrs. Vawjhan, who is the second daughter of the late Mr. William Wilson, of Drury Plat, and by four sons, Messrs. George .Vaughan, of Rotorua, and R. E.. F. E., and T. F. Vaughan, all of Long Bay.

MR. C. A. PIPER. Mr. Charles Albert Piper, who was for long associated with the New v Zealand Railways, died yesterday at the age of 67 years. Mr. Piper, who was born in London in 1856, came to New Zealand as a child. He joined the railway service in 1872, and was stationed in Christchurch, Oamaru, Dunedin, Invorcavgill, Greymouth, Wanganui, and Wellington. He attained the position of traffic superintendent for 1 the North Island, and retired after 45 years' service. Mr. Piper was, a prominent member :of the Methodist Church and was \ well known in Mount Eden bowling circles, while his long association with the railways caused him to be a familiar figure to travellers. He leaves a widow, two daughters—Mrs. Stevenson Wright, of Khandallah, and Mrs. Paterson, of Dunedinand five sons— Charles A. Piper of Invercargill. Mr. Fred V. Piper, of Oamaru, Mr. Arnold D. Piper, Mr. Horace W. Piper, of Wellington, and Mr. Llew. S. Piper, of Auckland. - 5

MR. R. W. KANE. [BY TELEGRAPH. "PRESS ASSOCIATION.] , WELLINGTON. Monday. The death is announced of Mr, R. W. Kane, a director .of the Bank of New Zealand and financial adviser to the Public Trust Office, aged 74. [Mr. Kane, who had been ailing for some time, was at one time manager of the branch of the Bank of New Zealand at Adelaide. He was transferred : from there to be manager of the Wellington branch, and was next removed to the head office and appointed inspector. Mr. Kane resigned that position on account of ill-health, and was then appointed by the Government as a director of the board, later becoming Government representative. After retiring front that position on the death of Mr. Martin Kennedy the shoreholders elected Mr. Kane as their representative on the board of directors of the bank, and he has been reelected ever since. During the war, Mr. Kane was appointed financial adviser to the Public Trust Office, which position he held until his death. Mr. E. W. Kane, clerk of the House of Representatives, is a brother of deceased.]

MR. ROBERT McCALLUM. [BY telegraph.—press association.] ASHBUSTON. Monday. The death is reported of Mr. Robert McCallum, aged 82. He was born near Glasgow and landed •>-*, Port Chalmers about 1862. Mr. McCallum lived for short periods in Dunedin and Timaru, and afterwards went to the West Coast. He was 'a friend of the late Mr. R. J. Seddon. " Mr. S. P. McCallum, a Rhodes scholar, is a son of deceased. •.*... SIR VESEY BOLT. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON; Monday The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company has received a cablegram from the head office in London announcing the. death, on December 6, of Sir Vesey Bolt, K.8.E.; who had occupied a neat on the London directorate for the past 29 year*.