OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21378, 30 December 1932, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR. W. M. COMMONS WIDE BUSINESS INTERESTS FORMER TAURANGA 'MAYOR The death occurred at his residence, Mountain Road, yesterday, of Mr. William MeKenzie Commons, well-known Auckland business man, ntid at one t jino Mayor of Tauranga, aged 83 years. He had" been in indifferent health dining the past two months.

A son of the late Mr. John Commons, who was ono of the earliest residents of Auckland, and si friend of the late Sir John Logan Campbell, Mr. Commons was horn in Auckland in 1849 and received his education at the old Prince, Albert College and t jus Auckland Grammar School. Ho was 19 years of nge and employed as a cadet on the Watt Biotheis sheep station at To Mahia in 1868 when To Ivooti landed from the Chatham Islands and the Matawhero Massacre occurred. Returning to Auckland, he joined the firm of Cruickshank, Smart and Company, Island and coastal traders, subsequently taking charge of the firm's shipping department and visiting the Islands and South America in tho company's interest. About 1875 he went to Tauranga as the first representative in the Bay of Plenty of the Northern Steamship and Union Steam Ship Companies, commencing a business association with that district that lasted for 32 years. He built up many successful business connections with Tauranga, entered municipal life and, after serving for many years as a member of the Borough Council, was elected Mayor. He was one of the founders <>f tho Presbyterian Church in,that town and for over 18 years was its secretary and treasurer.

In 1807 Mr. Commons returned to Auckland, and for six years he was man-aging-director of Wilsons (N.5J.) Portland Cement, Limited. He retired from that position in 1913 on account of ill-health, but maintained an activo interest iri several business concerns, of which he was a director, until his death. In his youth, Mr. Commons was a representative Rugby footballer, sailed in the well-known Auckland yacht Volunteer. and was an enthusiastic supporter of tho Auckland Regatta. In later years he was a member of tho Auckland Bowling Club and at one time its prosident, while until recently ho was a member of the Auckland Club and Savage Club. He was ono of the earliest members of the Masonic order in Tauianga. Mrs. Commons died seven years ago. There are six surviving children: Mr. D. G. Commons and Mr. A. .Commons, of Remuera, Mrs. S. J. Elliott, of Epsom, Mrs. P. D. Tennent, of Waverley, Mrs. J. M. Roberts, of Rotorua, and Miss D. 11. Commons, of Mountain Road. A son was killed on Gallipoli. There are nine grandchildren. MR. G. SEYMOUR GRAHAM The death has occurred of Mr. George Seymour Graham, one of the Canterbury Pilgrims and an old resident of Lyttelton. Mr. Graham was born in tho County of Kent on August 25, 1850, and was one of a family of eight, of whom only one, a younger brother, still lives. When he was six weeks old his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Graham, set sail for New Zealand in the Sir George Seymour, one of tho First Four Ships, after which vessel ho was named. As a youth Mr. Graham worked in tho Lyttelton tunnel while it was being constructed. Subsequently he worked for the Lyttelton Harbour Board for several years during the construction of the Gladstone Pier. Later ho worked for tho Lyttelton Borough Council for a period of over 40 years. After leaving the employ of tho Borough Council Mr. Graham resided at Woolston until his death. He is suvived by a family of four sons and three daughters, all of whom reside in Christchurch and Lyttelton. MRS. J. RICHARDS [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday The death occurred at tho Waikato Hospital yesterday of Mrs. Margaret Richards, wife of the Rev. J. Richards, Methodist minister at Cambridge. Mrs. Richards, who was 41 years of age, was horn at To Puke, and was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. W. Hurray, who were well-known residents of the Bay of Plenty. She was married at To Puke in 1915 and afterwards lived in Wellington, Dannevirke, Auckland and Dunedin. Mrs Richards is survived by her husband and a family of three.