OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 12

OBITUARY.

MRS. VEREKER-BINDQN. [BY TELEOBAPH. —OWN i HAMILTON, Tuesday. . " The death occurred at Hamilton to* day of Mrs. Lila Annie Vereker-Bindon, widow of the late Mr. W. H. Vereken- • Bindon. Mrs. Yereker-Bindon, who had been a resident of Hamilton for several years, suffered a long illness. She wa» the third daughter of Mr. James Xinsella* , Her husband, who died 15 years ago, was for many years chief inspector of V schools in the Wanganui Education Board's district. She leaves an adult family of two sons and two daughters.

MR. W. O. SKEET. The death occurred with painful suddenness last Saturday afternoon on the Hastings Bowling Club's green, of Mr* r William Oswald Skeet. Deceased was . born in England in 1853 and landed ia Wellington with his parents in the same . J year. Some years afterwards the family:,; removed to Napier, where they lived- until 1873, when they settled in Gisborne, being among the early settlers of that town. The late Mr. Skeet resided continually in Gisborne for 47 years, but in 1920 ho retired from active life and removed to Napier, where he resided until the time of his deatli. He was for many years a member of the Borough Council. In his younger days he .did much, to further sport in the Gisborne district. He . was one of the founders of the Gisborne and Kahutia Bowline Clubs and of the Gisborne Rowing Cluo., and occupied the position* of president of the West End Football' Club and Poverty Bay Referees' Association. Ho was also a prominent Freemason. He is his wife and six children—Messrs. B, Skeet, of Auckland, C. R. and E. R* Skeet, of Gisborne. and E. E. and L. A« Skeet and Mrs. Langley, of Napier-

Mil. JOHN BELL. The death of Mr. John Bell, an early, . . settler of the Opotiki district and a prominent and popular figure in Auckland, business circles over' a period of many t v years, occurred yesterday, on Mr. Bell's ' 72nd birthday. One of a large family, : the late Mr. Bell arrived in New Zealand with his parents in the ship Jessid Roadman some 50 years ago. His- early days in New Zealand were spent with the family, in the Bay .of Plenty, near Opotiki, where Mr. John Bell established himself in the grocery business, latox* being partnered by three brothers-in-law, when the trading concern assumed the title of Bona ana Bell, and founded a branch in Auckland* About 30 years ago the firm concent trated on its wholesale business in Auck* land, and it was in that connection that' the late Mr. BeH earned "for himself # high place in the esteem of h*s business* associates. Of a retiring disposition, and within, recent) years enjoying indifferent health, he did not take an active part in local affairs, but while in Opotiki lie waa one of the most active of the banc" of settlers who festered the infant dairying industry, and was one of those instrumental in the foundation of the first dairy factory there. He was, too, one of the charter members of the Opotiki Masonie Lodge. He leaves a widow, one son, Mr. John Ms Bell, and a daughter, Miss Eunice Mona Bell, all of Auckland.

MR. THOMAS ALLEN. [B¥ TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT^} NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. Tha death occurred at his home yesteeday of Mr. Thomas Allen, a notabla - figure in the pioneer life of TaranakLi Nearly 87 yeara of age, Mr. Allen waa brought to Now Plymouth as a child by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Allen* the family making the voyage from England in the Amelia Thompson, which was the second ship to bring settlers to New Plymouth. The vessel arrived on September 3, 1841. Mr. Allen spent the remainder of his life in Taranaki. He did his part in fight" ing and garrison duty in common with other settlers, and took part in the his* tone battle of Waireka. He was also at Mahoetahi. In 1364 he visited A us- " tralia, where he married Mi3s Mary Ann • Thomas. He is survived by his widow# five sons and three daughters. There ara - 23 grandchildren and four great-grand-children.