OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 12

OBITUARY.

MR. ALFRED R. HARRIS. Tho death of Mr. Alfred R. Harris, oj East Tamaki, removes one who whs connected with public life in'tho Auckland Province for many years. 5,Jr. Harris was the son of the late Captain Harris, an early settler in Now Zealand, and was born at Wellington in 1348, his family afterwards coming lo tho Auckland district. He was a brother of Major 0. Harris, formerly M.L.C. In his early manhood Mr. Harris spent three years on tho Thames goldfield, then recently opened, hut relinquished the digger's life to enter upon famine; pursuits. Ho became the proprietor of two farms, one.at Waiuku, which lie held for 15 wears, and tho other the Huntingdon farm, East Tamaki, where ho resided at hi? death. In his active days it had tie reputation of being one of the model farms in the vicinity of Auckland. For a long period Mr, Harris was prominent in public life in the provincial district. In 1880 ho was elected to tho East Tamaki Road Board, of which ho was chairman for 10 years, and he held tho chairmanship of the local School Committee for 15 years. Although never a betting man, ho was a keen follower and patron of sport for the greater part of his lifetime. At one time: ho was. chairman of the committee of the Otahuhu Trotting Club and for a long period judge for thoOtahuhu and Auckland Trotting Clubs. He. owned a private racecourse, which he throw open free to the public for the Easi Tamaki races, ami he was also an owner of racehorses. For. nearly a quarter of « century he hunted with the Paktirarißa Hunt. Club and in his earlier years served with the Otahuhu Cavalry. Nehrly all the agricultural and associations of the provincial district wen glad of tho services of Mr, Harris as u judge of stock and for a long period h< was connected with such bodies j'ne*# Auckland. lie was a justice of the pctMß for over 30 years, and for some timo a member of the Franklin Licensing Committee. 11l 1900 Mr. Harris was appointed a member of tho Auckland Harbour Board by tho Government of the day and held the' seat for some years. He also served the public on the Auckland Education Board. He is survived by on adidt family. MR. THOMAS BARTON. , Mr. Thomas Barton, who died at 'his residence, Royal Oak, last week, was an old resident of Auckland, .He whs born at Poparoa in 1865 and spent his early life in tho Kaipnra district. After spending some years in Melbourne he came to Auckland, where he established tho firm of Barton and MeGill, billiard table makers. He was in business at Hamilton for some time, but later returned to Auckland to take up the position </f manager of tho Tonson (larliH: (uniitmo factory. Mr. ' Barton retired five years ago. He war. an active m>>n l-r of tl""Baptist Tabernacle, Deceased it «nrvived by bis widow and three fcKter .