1905 ALL BLACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24250, 16 April 1942, Page 9

1905 ALL BLACK

ME. G. A. TYLER'S DEATH HARBOUR DOCKMASTER One of the outstanding players of the 1905 All Blacks, Mr. G. A. Tyler, died suddenly yesterday at his home in Ponsonby. An expert hooker, the late Mr. Tyler represented Auckland in Rugby football from 1899 to 1911 and was a great stalwart of the City Club. He gained North Island honours in 1903 and played for New Zealand in the 1903, 1904 and 1905 seasons. Mr, Tyler was also a champion swimmer and at one stage held the New Zealand record for 100 yards. Rowing, too, interested him ahd he was a member of the Waitemata Club. Small boat racing claimed his attention in recent years. He had held the office of president of the Herne Bay Yacht Club since its inception. Several tributes have been paid to him for the manner in which | he looked after the yachts and the boys I in the last 10 years.

Since 1910, when he first joined the Auckland Harbour Board's staff, until his death, Mr. Tyler was dockmaster of the Calliope dock and of the Harbour Board's slipway for vessels up to 600 tons at St. Mary's Bay. In that time he has docked all classes of vessels up to the largest that can use the dock. A tribute to Mr. Tyler's work was gaid yesterday by the harbourmaster, aptam H. H. Sergeant, who also remarked on the high esteem in which he was held by Auckland's shipping interests. Before joining the Harbour Board, Mr. Tyler had been employed as a boatbuilder in the firm of Tyler and Harley. He bad built many fine boats, said Captain Sergeant. Mr. Tyler remained at his post until three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, when lie was forced to return home. His death occurred early yesterday morning. He is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs. Allan Walmsley, whose husband is serving with the armed forces. Mr. James Tyler, engineer to the Auckland City Council, is a brother.