OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MB. J. OBMSBr JONES.

The vicissitudes and hardships of the early days in the Auckland province were experienced in full measure by Mr. J. Ormsby Jones, who passed away at his residence, 43, Wood Street, Ponsonby, on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Jones was the second son of the late Mr. Q. J. C. Jorte3, of Willoughby Lodge, Inniskiilen, Ireland, and received his education in his nativa country, being an old boy of Portora Royal School. He arrived at Auckland in the ship Norwood on August 11, 1866, when 24 years of aga, but' found conditions at that time anything but. promising:- Although highly educated and trained for banking and professional pursuits, the depression then prevailing made it necessary for him to turn his hand to anything £hat offered the means of earning a livelihood, and he entered into the life of the young and struggling community with a f iest and optimism that characterised him throughout his long residence in the country. He even engaged in labouring work and helped in the building of the Shortland Street post office. At various times he found employment on coastal vessels and on sheep stations, and even had a period at bullock-driving. Ever keen for new adventures, Mr. Jones went to Thames with the early rush of gold-seekers, and while there: 'joined the staff of the Union Bank of Australia, spending the rest of his working life with that institution. He remained at Thames for 20 years, and was then transferred to Auckland, .after which ha went to Christchurch, where he rose to the position of accountant. His next move was to Rangiora, where he became manager of the branch of the bank and remained until his retirement in 1913. > Mr. Jones was a man of genial disposition and enjoyed unusual popularity among his colleagues and acquaintances. On his retirement ho came to Auckland to reside, &nd before leaving Canterbury was the recipient of many testimonies to his worth and the esteejjn of his friends. He was aft enthusiastic oarsman, and was. one of the first members of the Auckland Rowing Club and subsequently captain of the Canterbury Rowing Club, a post he held for several years. His success in this • branch of sport was shown by the great number of trophies in his possession, and these, including about 20 cups, he delighted to show to visitors. He was for ii&y years a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was for some time Grand Master of the Lodge of ,Light at the Thames. : i The deceased gentleman is survived by his widow, a daughter of the late Mr. John Sands Cussen, a well-known surveyor, whom he married in 1887, and by two sons and three daughters. These are Mr. A. C. Jones, of Ohakura, Mr. O. L. Jones, of the Union Bank at Christchurch, Mrs. A. P. Malthus, of Auckland, Mrs.' J. O'Halloran, of Canterbury, and Miss Jones, of' Auckland. CAPTAIN DUNCAN McNEILL. The death occarred in London on June 9of Captain Duncan McNe? T ~) of Colonsav, who is believed to bo the last of the Scots Grey 3 officers who served with the regiment in the Crimean War;; He was bom in 1836, and joined the Scots Greys in 1854. ; Cajtain McNeill was present at the battle of the Tchernaya, and the fall of Sebastopol, receiving the British and Turkish medals and clasps. He was a brother of the late Sir John McNeill, V.C., who for many years was Equerry to the late Queen Victoria, and of the late Captain Alexander McNeill, R.E., of Wanganui. He was an uncle of Dr. McNeill, of Devon- . ' MR. NORMAN McINNES. FBI TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] . WHANGASBI. Saturday. At Marua yesterday afternoon the death place of Mr. Norman Mclnnes from heart failure, after having been some time m hospital. "The deceased was born in Nova Scotia in 1852, and arrived by the Breadalbane iii 1858. His parents settled £it Kauri, hot ween Whangarei and Hikurangi. Subsequently the deceased married and took up land at Mania. Of sterling character, Mr. Mclnnes was perhap; best known as a bridge-builde?.. His father, the lata Mr. Malcolm Mclnnes, with whom associated the late Mr. Neil McPhee, took up bridge-building in the early davs, their first work being the old Otaika Bridge. Their next job was the building of the old Town Wharf, after which they undertook iiie Ruatangata Bridge and the Marsden Point Wharf, various smaller bridges throughout the Whangarei County. _The deceased built the Victoria swing bridge in Wharlgarei, the ■ Wairua and the Maugakahia Bridges, as well as the old Kiorcroa Coal Wharf in : 4gßo. In other parts of New Zealand Work was aj>o carried out, including tbree • bridges on tha Greymonth to Reaftou railway. •