OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MR. WILLIAM DUNCAN. EXPERIENCE AS LAND VALUER. SERVICE FOR GOVERNMENT. The death of Mr. William Duncan, a well-known resident of Takapuna, and one of the most widely experienced land : valuers in the Auckland district', occurred in a private hospital on Saturday. Mr. Duncan was the eldest son of the late Mr. George Duncan, and was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1853. At the age of eleven he came to New Zealand, with his parents, in the ship Gladiator, the family settling in the Raglan district. Later they removed to Christchurch. On completing his education at bury College Mr. Duncan entered the building trade and ultimately became a master builder in Christchurch. A few years afterward he returned to the Raglan district as owner of the Newlanrls Estate, Ruapuke, of 1200 acres. In 1881 Mr. Duncan was appointed a justice of the peace and about the same time he was asked by the Government to endeavour to arrange a meeting between the Maori "king" Tawhiao and Ministers of the Crown. This he succeeded in doing, as he was well acquainted with Tawhiao, and as a result of the meeting most of the troubles with the Maoris in the Waikato were brought to an end. After coming to Auckland in 1885 Mr. Duncan engaged principally in land valuation, in which he had become an expert. From 1890 he was inspecting assessor under the Property Tax Act, and when the Advances to Settlers Act came into operation ho was appointed chief x valuer for the Auckland district. Ha subsequently became supervising valuer under the Government Valuation of Land Act., and he was also appointed a member of the Waikato District Land Council. In late years Mr. Duncan lived at Takapuna, and, although long retired fi»m regular Government employment, his services were frequently called upon when any important questions of assessment or arbitration arose. Mr. Duncan was always greatly interested in matters concerning the public welfare and local politics claimed much of his time. He served as chairman of the Raglan County Council, the Karioi Road Board and the Ruapuke School Committee, and, more recently, as a member of the Takapyna Borough Council and president of the Takapuna Citizens' League. Mr. Duncan is survived by his wife. The funeral will take place at Waikumete this afternoon. MR. JOHN WOOD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHEISTCHURCH, Saturday. The death has occurred at the age of 73 years of Mr. John Wood, a former manager of Christchurch Tramways and at one time Mayor of Riccarton.