OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20898, 13 June 1931, Page 12

OBITUARY.

IMR. THOMAS SPEECH!.AY. Tlip. death of Mr. Thomas Speechlay, a well-known fanner and resident of the Pakuranga district for 63 years, occurred on Thursday, lie was born in Auckland 72 years ago, his father being one of the earliest settlers in the province and a soldier in the Maori Wars. Always alert to local interests he was a representative of the Pakuranga Hiding on the Manukau County Council. Ho also took an interest in sport, and was a keen cricketer and boxer in his earlier years and latterly an active member of the Howick Bowling Club. Mr. Speechlav is survived by four sons and three daughters. The funeral will take place at the Church of England Cemetery, Howick, this afternoon. REV. JOHN J. LEWIS. A former President of the New Zealand Wesleyan Church Conference and a prominent Methodist clergyman, the rtov. John James Lewis, died at his residence, Tenterden Avenue, Mount Eden, yesterday. Mr. Lewis was born in Wales 86 years ago and came to New Zealand in 1870, his first ministerial appointment being that of junior pastor in Auckland, which then comprised but one circuit. 'J hree years later he was transferred to Wellington and in 1875, having suffered a breakdown in health, he returned to Britain. On coming back to the Dominion a year or two afterwards he laboured successively in Dunedin, Waimato South and Chrislchurch. In 1902 ho assumed the pastorate of the Grafton Road Church, Auckland, and later again went to the Wellington district, where he had charge of several churches. Mr. Lewis was a scholarly and able minister and in 1890 he was President of the Wesleyan Church Conference, the highest office in the denomination. At that time the union of New Zealand Methodism had not been accomplished. On his retirement from active life in 1919 Mr. Lewis returned to Auckland and took up his residence at Mount Eden. Deceased is survived by his widow, three daughters, and a son, Mr. Percv Lewis, who is an inspector of schools in Hawke's Bay. The funeral will take place at Hillsborough Cemetery this afternoon. MR. ALEXANDER GHi EH SON. The death occurred at his residence, Penryu Road, Mount Eden, yesterday, of Mr. Alexander Grierson, who had enjoyed a long and successful career as chartered and public accountant in Auckland. Born in Cheshire, England, Mr. Grierson was the eldest son of the late Mr. John Grierson, cotton merchant, of Manchester. He was trained in public accountancy in England and held many important positions in the city of Manchester before ill-health induced him to come to New Zealand 35 years ago. For a long period he was the only chartered accountant in Auckland and at the time of his death was the only member of the British Institute of Chartered Accountants in the city. Considering his physique, which suffered in early life, Mr. Grierson was exceedingly active and energetic. He played cricket as a young man and until comparatively recently was fond of tennis and riding. He was a member of the Auckland Club. Mr. Grierson married, 23 years ago, .Miss Edith L. Bull, of Tauranga, by whom he is survived. Of his foui brothers those surviving are Mr. J. C Grierson. Onslow Road, Epsom, who retired last month from the position of secretary of the Auckland Co-operative Terminating Building Society; Mr. 11. K. Grierson, of Southampton, England; and Mr. Maxwell Grierson, of New York. The funeral will leave for Purewa Cemetery this afternoon. MR. J6HN MILNE. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Friday. The death occurred at Matangi to-day of Mr. John Milne, at the age of 54. He came from Southland and had been a prominent farmer of the Matangi district for many years. He is survived by a widow and three young children. MRS. W. G. HAYWARD. [from our own correspondent.] THAMES, Friday. Much regret was felt at Thames and the Hauraki Plains at the death of Mrs. W. G. Hayward, a* Auckland yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Hayward were among the first settlers of Ngatea, leaving there to live in Auckland. Mr. Hayward has been for some years a member of the Auckland Land Board. There are two sons and two daughters.