OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20518, 20 March 1930, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN KIRBY<

NEW ZEALAND COMEDIAN,

(Received March 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 113. The death lias occurred of Mr. John Kit by, a New Zealand comedian, Deceased was appearing in the musical play " Silver Wings." He played on Saturday evening and was taken ill suddenly on Sunday.' Death was due' to cerebral hemorrhage.''

Although the late Mr. Kirby was a New Zealander, having been born in Dunedin about 35. years ago, he was better known professionally in Australia, where he played for some years under thij Fuller management, principally in comedy parts in drama. Later he essayed musical comedy roles with considerable success, and toured the Dominion with Fuller and Ward musical comedy companies. For some time he played in Australia with the two sisters Miss Lorna Pounds and Miss Toots Pounds, and when tfcey decided to seek fame in London, Mr-> Kirby followed suit. He was not thera long before he secured a good contract, and he has been playing character comedy redes iri musical comedy practically continuously ever since. Most of his appearances have been under the management of Messrs. Clayton and Waller, and recently he played in a musical comedy; with another Australian and New Zealand favourite, Mr. George Gee. Mr.Kirby was generally recognised as one of the most consistent musical comedy players on the West End stage. SIR HENRY LEFROY r (Received March 19, 10.25 p.m.) PERTH. March 19. The death occurred to-day of Sir Henry; Lefroy, a former Premier of West ern Australia, and Agent-General from 1901 to 1904. He was a prominent pastoralist. Sir Henry Bruce Lefroy was bora at Perth in 1854, and educated at Rugby, School. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1892, and sat fox* nearly 210 years, and held various portfolios. Ha was Premier from June, 1917, to May, 1919. He * •as knighted in 1919. MR. W. H. SEALS. SYDNEY, March 19. The death has occurred of Mr, W. Hv Seale, secretary of the Waterside Workers'Federation, undji former president of the Australian Labour Party.