OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19382, 17 July 1926, Page 12

OBITUARY.

CAPTAIN MEREDITH ROUNTREE.

Captain Meredith Rountree, who died at Bayswater this week at the age of 68, was a popular figure in coastal and intercolonial shipping for the past half-century. He was born at Portadownj County Armagh. Ireland, and arrived in Auckland with his parents in the sailing ship Portland, in 1863. Early in life he developed a fondness for the sea. In 1882 he qualified as master and received his ticket and entered tho inter-colonial and coastal trade. He had command of various vessels, bnt maintained a partiality for sailing ships. During the eight .months before the "illness which proved fatal he held the position of pilot at Mokau. Captain Rountree was the only surviving son of the late Mr. Meredith Rountree, of Mangapai, North Auckland. He leaves a widow and two danghters, Miss Roan tree and Mrs. Edgar Palgrave Davy. The funeral took place at the family resting place in the old Birkenhead Cemetery lag! Wednesday. Mr j. w. e. miles. [bt telegraph.—press association.] HASTINGS. Friday. Mr. John W. E. Miles, chief clerk at the Hastings railway station, suffered a sudden seizure late last night and died early this morning. He was in his usual health at 9.30 p.m., when he was talking to the stationmaster, but he became ill soon after and went home. He leaves, a widow and two young children. : .v. < ■, • «i.\ : . MR. ROBERT McBETH. ' , [BT telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] FEILDING, Friday. * The death of Mr. Robert Mcßoth, of Highfield Road, Feilding, took place yesterday morning. Deceased was the fiftlf son of -the late Mr. and Mrs. John MeBeth, of Marton, who came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Bengal M&feh&ht tn the early days. The late Mr. Mcßftth was born in Wellington in 1847, and" in 1855 travelled from that city with his parents along the coast to Rangitikei. In 1876, accompanied by the" late Hon. John Bryce, of Wanganui, he took up land at Kiwitea, which he held nntil his death. Deceased was for many years a member of the Kiwitea County Council and was prominent in public affairs. He is survived by a widow, two daughters—Mrs. (Dr.) Beadie, Dannevirke, and Mrs. E. C. Short, Feilding—and one son—Mr. George' Mcßeth, Kiwitea. MRS. .ROBERT WILSON. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. The announcement of tho death ~ this morning of Mrs. Robert Wilson came as a great Shock to her many friends in Canterbury. Mrs Wilson, before her marriage, was Miss Doris Cracroft Wilson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Cracroft Wilson, Cashmere, and waa Very popular in the many circles to which she belonged. While in Christchurch she was provincial secretary for tho Girl Peace Scout movement for a number of years, and she also wai scout mistress of the Cashmere Hills troop. In an charitable work she was well-known and loved, her kindly spirit being felt by both old and young with whom she came in contact. The late Mrs. Wilson married Mr. Robert Adam Wilson, son of Sir James Wilson, of Bulls, in 3923; and moved to the North Island. Her home was at Elmswell, Marton, where she lived until the time of her death. She leaves a husband and two small children, a daughter of 18 months and a son aged 11 days.