OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23196, 16 November 1938, Page 18

OBITUARY

MR. ROBERT B. MARTIN LONG LIFE IN AUCKLAND A well-known resident of Panmure, Mr. Robert Bartlett Martin, died at his home on tho Mount Wellington Highway on Monday, aged 85. Mr. Martin was born on :i farm at Robertson's Hill, Otahuhu, the site of tho present St urges Park. His mother had arrived at Auckland from England in the barque Flora in June, 18-18, her first night in port being marked by the burning of the original Government House, a wooden bungalow which had been shipped in sections from Erigland in 1810. His father reached New Zealand two years later by tho ship Sir Edward Paget. After attending a private school and tho Wcsleyan College, Mr. Martin served his apprenticeship as a shipwright with tho firm of Dutliie and Ross. In 1877 ho signed on as ship's carpenter of tho Spirit of the Dawn for tho voyage to England, and visited the West Indies. Returning to Auckland ho took up his former trade, and later carried out many contracts for tho construction of wharves for the Auckland Harbour Board. Quo of the most important jobs which ho undertook was the construction of the largo sewage tanks at Orakei for the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board. Mr. Martin, .who had been a widower for four years, celebrated his Both birthday last May. He "is survived by threo sons and four daughters, all" of whom reside in the Auckland Province. MRS. SUSAN WHITE Tho death has occurred of an old Auckland resident, Mrs. Susan White, of Tirohanga Avenue, Remuera. Born at Onehlinga in 1863, Mrs. White was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. George Broadfoot. After her marriage to the late Mr. Alfred Lovell White she lived for many years at Birkenhead. Mr. White died in 1915, and for tho last 12 years his widow resided at Remuera. She was; a regular attendant at tho Remuera Methodist Church, and formerly, during a period of residence at Mount Eden, she had been secretary of tho branch of the League of Mothers there. Her interests also included tho Y.W.C.A., Dr. Barnardo's Homes and the British and Foreign Bible Society. MR. ALICK WILLIAMS The death has occurred of Mr. Alick Williams, of St. LaAvrcnce station, Otane, Hawke's Bay, son of the late Mr. John Williams and grandson of tho late Rov. Henry Williams. Bom at the Bay of Islands in 1861, Mr. Alick Williams went to Hawke's Bay in the early 'eighties and when about 18 years of age worked on Te Aute station. Later he worked for a period as a stock agent with the li>te Mr. William Nelson and became one of the founders of the well-known stock agency firm of Abraham and Williams, Limited. After being with that firm for five years he resigned to take over the management of Pourere station for the late Mr. William Busby. In 1901 he went to manage the St. Lawrence station, then a property of some 16,000 acres, for the late Archdeacon Williams and he had remained on this property ever since. Mr. Williams is survived by his second wife, two sons and two daughters. MRS. A. M. DONOVAN [from our own correspondent] MORRINSVILLE, Tuesday The death has occurred of Mrs. Alice Maud Donovan, aged 73, a resident of the To Aroha district. Mrs. Donovan, with her husband, who predeceased her 10 years ago, was a pioneer of the §old*fiekls and Thames Valley districts. ho arrived in New Zealand with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Brumby, in tho sailing-ship Ashmore in 1882. Another passenger on this ship was Mr. W. H. Herries, later Sir William Herries. Mrs. Donovan's parents settled at Shaftesbury, about 10 miles from To Aroha, where Mr. Herries also took up a farm. On Mrs. Donovan's marriage she moved to Waiorongomai. She lived there and at Waihou for practically tho rest of her life. She is survived by six daughters and four sons. Thero are 46 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. . f MBS. AGNES MILLS The death has occurred at Waikino of an old resident of the Thames and Waikino districts, Mrs. Agnes Mills, at tho age of 85. Born at Auckland in 1853, Mi's. Mills spent her early days thero with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. Douglas, who conducted a bakery business in Queen Street. During tho gold rush she left for Thames, where she was married in the old St. George's Church in 1873. With her husband, who assisted at the Anglo-Maori gold mine and was a bus driver between Thames and Turua wharf, Mrs. Mills lived in Thames for about 30 years. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Mills left Thames for Waikino, where Mr. Mills had obtained work in tho Victoria battery, and tho.v lived thero until her husband died 21 years ago. Mrs. Mills had nevor travelled out of tho Auckland Province. She is survived by two sons and four daughters. There are 20 grandchildren and six great-grand-children. . MRS. H. T. RATANA The death has occurred of Mrs. Rangimaru Ratana, wifo of Mr. H. T. Ratana, M.P. for the Western Maori electorate. Mrs. Ratana was tho daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Terarau Negia, formerly of Parakino, and a direct descendant of Rena Maikuku, a chieftainess of Ngati-Pakiahu Whanganui, and of Honi Tumango, a wellknown Maori chief. She died at Ratana pa. A representative Wanganui hockey player, she did much to foster the game as a member of the Ratana women's team. Besides her husband, Mrs. Ratana is survived by two infant children. MR. EDWARD WALDERS [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday The death has occurred in Hamilton of Mr. Edward Waldors, aged 54. Mr. Walders was born in Southland and took up engineering. Ho was a wellknown Rugby footballer in his youth and represented Southland. Mr. Walders was'in busifjioss in; the engineering tradd in Palmerstdh Norths liariiilton and Morrinsvillo.! He is survived by his wifo, ono son and one daughter. MR. JAMES GORDON [BY TELKORAI'II—OWN CORRESPONDENT] WAIHI, Tuesday The death has occurred at his residence, Te Aroha, of Mr. James Gordon, aged 57, a former coach driver and well-known figure in the Waihi, Waitekauri and Paoroa districts. Mr. Gordon, whoso family had settled very early at Waitekauri, later wont into business in To Aroha, and followod that by taking up a largo area of land on the Waihi Plains, lioing ono of tho pioneers. Ho is survived by his wife, ono son and three daughters. MR. FREDERICK HOBBS [IJY TELEGRAPH—OWN OOH RESPONDENT 1 < CHRIBTCHURCH. Tuesday Tho death has occurred of Mr. Frederick Hobbs, aged 56, town clerk at Lyttelton since 1919.