LIFELONG SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22398, 20 April 1936, Page 11

LIFELONG SERVICE

INTERESTS OF EMPIRE

DEATH OF MAJOR J. R. BOOSE ORGANISER OF INSTITUTE The death occurred in a private nursing home at Epsom last night of Major James Unfits J loose, C.M.G., V.D., who gave more than half-a-ccnturv of enthusiastic service to the promotion of the interests of the Royal Colonial .Institute, now the Royal Empire Society, throughout the Enwire. His life's work made hiin personally known and honoured by statesmen in all parts of the Empire* Since November of 1934 1 he had resided with Mrs. Boose in Auckland, and, though his health had been failing, he retained to the last his enthusiasm for the cause to which lie devoted his life. He was first president of the Auckland branch of the Royal Empire Society, which was formed here last vear.

Maior Boose was born at Windsor on March 10, 1859. As secretary and travelling commissioner to the Colonial Institute he made extensive tours from England between 1912 and 1922. visiting Canada in 1912, South Africa in 1913, Australia and New Zealand in 1914 and 1920-22, and the West Indies and British Guiana in 1915.

Writing in the preface of " Memory Serving." one of Major Boose's many publications, Sir Charles Lucas speaks in glowing terms of the author. "There is only one man living," lie says, "who is capable of telling the story of the institute from day-to-day personal experience, and he is Major Boose. As he tells us, lie entered the service of the institute as a bov of 14 in the year 187; i. five years after it was born into the world; his whole life lias been one long, uninterrupted record of devotion to its work and to its interests, as clerk, librarian, secretary and travelling commissioner; and in retirement the devotion is still unabated, as witness this book, written by request and somewhat reluctantly, the writer being handicapped by ill-health and absence from England—disadvantages which should disarm criticism, if any are tempted to criticise.

"1 would speak of him personally as I know him." Sir Charles adds, "the kindliest and most single-minde.d of men, thinking no evil and unwearicdlv working for the good in his sphere of life. As the founder of our library . . . he has earned the thanks of all book lovers and all Empire lovers." Major Boose served with Queen Victoria's Rifles and had been a commissioned officci for- 28 years when he retired in 190-5. After his return to England from his West Indies tour of 1915 he attempted to rejoin his old regiment, but was almost immediately stricken with a severe illness, from the effects ot which he never fully recovered .

About eight years ago Major Boose went to reside in the British West Indies, where, with Mrs. Boose, he spent altogether six years in Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados. He afterward visited Australia and si>ent. six months in Fiji before coininc to live in Auckland.

Major Boose was twice married. Hjs first wife died in 1911 and he again married in 1919. Mrs. Boose surviving him. There is a son and a daughter by the first marriage. Major Boose wrote many books mid publications, including "Literature of New Zealand," 1891. His book " Memory Serving " fully describes his two tours, of New Zealand and includes his impressions of the country and its people.