OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20203, 13 March 1929, Page 14

OBITUARY.

MRS. SEEKING MATTHEWS. News has been received by cablegram of the death in Sydney of Mrs. Seering Matthews, daughter of Mr. John Court, of Auckland. Before her marriage Mrs. Matthews was well and popularly known as Miss Jeannie Court, and her husband is also a member of an Auckland family. For several years Mrs. Matthews had mads her home in Sydney. Her family consists of Mrs. R. M. Grant, of Auckland. and Miss Rita and Jean Matthews, and the Rev. John Matthews, of Sydney. Besides her father and brothers, three of her sisters, Mrs. C. Rainger, Mrs. S. 0. English and Mrs. Taylor, live in Auckland. MR. 11. J. DIDDAMS, C.M.G. The death has occurred in Sydney of Mr. H. J. Diddams, C.M.G. Born in Auckland, Mr. Diddams was educated here and served his apprenticeship as a compositor. In 1881, Mr. Diddams went to Melbourne, where he joined the firm of McCarron, Bird and Co. Subsequently he was sent to Queensland by the firm and later bought the business in that city. He took a keen interest in municipal affairs, and was for 18 years a member of the Brisbane Council, having filled the mayoral chair for three years. In 1911 Mr. Diddams was created a C.M.G. and in 1925 he visited Auckland on his return from a health trip to England. A few months ago he again visited Auckland and stayed with his sister. Mrs. Fred Kenderdine. of Remucra. He was in ill-health at the time. It was while on his way home to Brisbane that Mr. Diddams died in Sydney. Deceased's wife died eight years ago and his daughter two years ago. One of his sons is managing the business in Brisbane and a brother resides m Dunedin. MR. A. A. ALEXANDER. Another of the band of early pioneers in the Bay of Islands has passed away in tho person of Mr. Alfred A. Alexander, aged 88 years, of Waihou Valley, Okaihau. Mr. Alexander arrived in Waimate North about 1865 and entered into partnership with Messrs. Anderson and Cook in a flourmill venture, taking over the gristing plant of Mr. J. Beddgood. Because of the unsettled state of the country, tho settlers could not produce enough wheat to keep tho mill gohig. lie left the district for a period but returned again later and farmed what is now a portion'of (he Northlands Estate. Disposing of this land, ho took up a farm in the Waihou Valley, where he lived until his death. Deceased was held in respect by the residents of the district. He is survived by four sons and three daughters. Messrs. W., E. and G. Alexander, of Auckland, and 11. Alexander, of Pakotai, Mrs. Graham, of Waihou Valley. Mrs. Ferguson. of Auckland, and Mrs. W. Austin, of Utakura, ITokianga.