OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19875, 20 February 1928, Page 10

OBITUARY.

MR. ROBERT C. CARR. WELL-KNOWN BUSINESS MAN. VETERAN OF MAORI WAR. Well known in business and financial circles in the city for the last half-cen-tury, Mr. Robert Charles Carr died at his residence, Victoria Avenue, Remuera, yesterday, aged 90. Mr. Carr was a native of Manchester, and was born in 1838. He was a son of Sir. John Carr, corn merchant of that city, and was educated at Lee's Commercial School, one of its oldest and best-known schools. Mr. Carr was at first engaged as a warehouseman, but on reaching his twenties he decided to try what fortune had in, stofe for him in New Zealand. He embarked in the ship Black Eagle, and reached Auckland on November 19, 1861. After his arrival Mr. Carp followed varied pursuits until the outbreak of the Maori War in 1863, when he volunteered and served in the sth Company of the Auckland Rifles under Captain Derrom and Lieut. Thompson, who, as the Hon. Thomas Thompson, afterwards became Minister of Defence in the Seddon Government. After the capture of the Gate jfa, Mr. Carr set up as a storekeeper at Tauranga, but returned to Auckland in 1867 and entered the service of Messrs. Turrell and Tonks, auctioneers and land agents. He remained in the employment of 'the firm until Mr. Turrell retired, when he was taken into partnership, the Arm assuming the style of Benjamin Tonks and Company. In course of time Mr. Carr established an independent estate agency business, and carried it on in partnership with two of his sons. Until a3 recently as four monthj. ago he was actively engaged in the control of the firm and had attended board meetings iatdr than that. On account of failing health he was obliged, early this year, to resign from the directorate of the New Zealand Insurance Company, of which he had been a member for 21 years. Prior to that he was on tho board of the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company for a "cpnsiderable time before it was acquired by the New Zealand Insurance Company. Mr. Carr was also a director of the * Northern Boot Company and of several mining companies. Throughout his life Mr. Carr was devoted to music. He held the position of organist at the Lower Remuera Mission Hall for 38 years, partly during the ministration of the late Mr. J. L. Wilson. In his younger days he was a member of the choir of the old St. Matthew's Church and for several months relieved the organist at St. Mary's Church, before it was elevated to the status of a cathedral.

Mr. Carr was married lo Miss Rose Alexander, daughter of the late Mr. A. Alexander, of Kings Clere, Hampshire, in St. Matthew's in September, 1867. Their diamond wedding was celebrated last year. He is survived by his wife and six children, namely, Archdeacon A. J. Carr, of Greymouth; Messrs. F» H. Carr, of Dunedin, and F. C. Carr, of Auckland; MesdameS E. J. Clendon, of Thames; W. J. Rutherford, of Bombay, and G. A. McMillan, of Auckland. There are eight grandchildren and three great-grand-children.

MRS. JESSY BAGNALL. The death occurred yesterday of Mrs. Jessy Bagnall, aged 70, who, with h»r husband, the late Mr. H. N. Bagnall, was one of the early pioneers of the province. Mrs. Bagnal! was born in London, and she came to New Zealand with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Steward, 63 years ago. Shortly after arrival the family settled at Huntly, but they were compelled to seek refuge in Auckland during hostilities with the Maoris. Later Mr. Steward joined in the gold rush to Thames, and the first 17 years of Mrs. Bagnall's married life were spent at Turua. In 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Bagnall took up their residence in Ponsonby. Mr. Bagnall died five vears ago. There is one daughter, Mrs. E. Wheatman, and of the five sons, four are in the Dominion. Messrs. C. -L. Bagnall, of Dargaville, F. Bagnall, of Paerata, and H. and A. Bagnall, of Auckland.

MR. CHARLES SPEIGHT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. The death occurred suddenly this <svening afc Christcburch of Mr. Charles Speight, a director o! New Zealand Breweries, Limited, and manager of the Dunedin branch of that firm: Mr. Speight was born at Dunedin in 1865. His father was Mr. James Speight, who settled in Dunedin in 1861, and who founded the brewery firm that bears his name in 187b. Mr. Speight was a director of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition and received the 0.8. E. for his services in that connection.