SURGEON'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25299, 5 September 1945, Page 6

SURGEON'S DEATH

COL. 1). N. W. MURRAY 'lf SERVICE IN THREE WARS The death occurred yesterday of a well-known Auckland surgeon, Colonel Donald Norman Watson Murray, G.M.G., D.5.0., M.D. For many years police surgeon in Auckland, he was r.t the time of his death Assistant-Director of Medical Services, Northern Military District. Born at Auckland in 1876. Colonel Murray was educated at Auckland Grammar School, Auckland University College and Edinburgh University, gaining the degrees of M.D., and Ch.B., at the latter. He was subsequently hon- .' orary physician and surgeon at Leicester Royal Infirmary and house physician at Ancoats Hospital. On the outbreak of the South African War he joined the East of Scotland Field Hospital and afterward the New Zealand Medical Corps in which he later maintained an interest for many years. On returning to New Zealand he practised in -Auckland in partnership with Dr T. Hope Lewis and in 1913 was appointed police surgeon and fulfilled these duties until he resigned in 1929. Fine Record in Army Volunteering for war service in 1914 Colonel Murray went overseas as officer commanding No. 2 Field Ambulance. For services in the field he was three times mentioned in despatches, and awarded the D.5.0., and later the C.M.G., was conferred on him. He served in Gallipoli, Egypt and France and was Assistant-Director of Medical Services to the New Zealand Division in Germany for a period at the conclusion of the war. .

On his return to the Dominion in 1919 Colonel Murray was for some months oificer commanding the military' annexe at Auckland Hospital. He was actively associated with New Zealand Medical Corps until posted to.the reserve of officers in 1921. Tn 1923 be was appointed* "honorary physician at the Auckland Hospital and he was also honorary surgeon of the Veteran's Home and the Seamen's Home. Duties in Second World War On the outbreak of the second world war in 1939, Colonel Murray was appointed Regional Deputy, Area 1, Auckland, and hefd this appointment until April. 1941, when he was posted to the hospital ship Maunganui. As senior, medical officer,- he made four voyages in this ship before relinquishing his appointment in March 1942. Three months later he was posted to the Northern Military District Headquarters as assistant to Colonel C. H. Tewsley, Assistant-Director of Medical Services. When the latter retired in October last year, Colonel Murray succeeded him. ... / Colonel Murray is survived by his wife. The funeral service will be held, at St. Mary's Cathedral at 11.30 tomorrow morning, the Rev. L. E. Cartridge officiating. The coffin will later be conveyed on a gun carriage to Waikumete. LOCAL AND GENERAL r Shipments of Potatoes Relief from the present shortage of potatoes in Auckland should be had next* week, with the arrival of a shipment from the South Island. A second vessel is expected from the South Island during the following week arid the shipment of Australian potatoes should arrive in about a fortnight's time. Auckland Clothes Brive As a result of the_ recent clothing drive for ITnrra, 585,978 garments and 16,419 pairs of boots and shoes have been packed in Auckland for shipment, it was reported at a meeting .last evening of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. If these were valued conservatively on an average at 103 each, the total value would be £301.198 10s, said the Mayoress, Mrs J. A. C. Allum. Hew Pilot Launch Planned A recommendation by the harbourmaster, Captain H, H. Sergeant, that plans be drawn up for a larger, faster nnd more up-to-date launch for the pilot service was approved at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. Captain Sergeant recommended a vessel or not less than 70ft in length, preferably with a single screw driven by a 'Diesel engine of sufficient power to attain 16 knots. Siren to be Restored The sounding of the siren on the Ferry Buildings is to be resumed shortly as a result of a decision confirmed at a meeting of "the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. The siren, which was taken for use as an Emergency Precautions Service signal early in the war, will he installed again and will sound at 8 a.m., tioon, 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. This action follows a request from the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Soldiers' Olubs In Peacetime The possibility that if New Zealand maintained a standing army after th# war and a large naval base staff afc Auckland it might he necessary to continue servicemen's organisations such as the Carrie Hostel on a peacetime hasis was mentioned at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee last evening. Arrangements have been made to carry on the activities of the hostel in the meantime. Pitcalrn Celebrates Peace How Pitcairn Island received the news of Japan's surrender is told_ in a letter from Miss Evelyn Tottenhofer, & missionary nurse on the island, received in Auckland yesterday. '.'The community bell on the island awakened us at 6.30 a.m. and rang solidly for ten minutes," she writes. "The day was spent as a holiday and we had a community dinner in the island's courtyard, with games and musical items in the evening." Grey's Avenue Flats Demolition work to clear the site of the new State flats to he erected in Grev's Avenue has commenced. Ihe buildings which are to be removed comprise a block of two shops at the lower end of the section and an apartment house at the upper end. Work has commenced on demolishing the shops, but the apartment house, which has been vacated, will be left standing in .the meantime, and will probably he used by the builder until it lias to be removed. No Mofe Patriotic Appeals A decision not to hold any more street-day appeals was reached bv the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee last evening. A request from the Women's Obstetrical and Gynaecological Committee that the patriotic committee should give up its street day set down for December 7, as the city council was not in favour of granting a further dav for their appeal, was agreed to. The Auckland City Council is to be advised that the patriotic committee will not require any street-days during 1946.