SUDDEN DEATH AT LOWER HUTT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1770, 7 February 1906, Page 28

SUDDEN DEATH AT LOWER HUTT.

The death occurred suddenly on Friday afternoon at Lower Hutt of Mr William Alfred Fitzlienbert, eldest son of the late Sir William Fitzherbert. and an old and well-known resident ol the Hutt district.

Mr Fitzherbert was proceeding on horseback to Gear Island, when he suddenly becamo weak. He dismounted, and called to his assistance an employee who was with him. The latter led Mr Fitzherbert along the river hank, but he collapsed almost immediately, and expired. Dr Purdy, who was sent for, had been attending deceased recently, and states that death was duo to heait failure, so that an inquest will not bo necessary.

The lato Mr Fitzherbert was born in London in 1842, and was educated at the Rev. William Wheeler’s Grammar School, Wellington, the Sydney Grammar School, Mr Dodd’s school, Surrey Hills, Sydney, and at Canterbury College. He entered the engineering department of the Provincial Government while Mr Roy was chief surveyor, and there gained a knowledge of engineering, remaining about five years. In 18G3 he went to Wainui-o-mata, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some years on a farm belonging to his father. Soon after Sir William was elected Superintendent of the Province Mr Fitzherbert returned to professional life, and worked as a surveyor until the abolition of the provinces in 187 G. Ho was then appointed engineer to tho Hutt County Council, a position ho held for about five years. For the past quarter of a century Air Fitzherbert had been principally engaged in 'pastoral pursuits. He had a sheep farm or twelve hundred acres near his home m the Hutt Valley, and was in partnership for some years with Mr Frank Waterhouse (nephew to the Hon. G...A1. Waterhouse) in a run of some thirty thousand acres in Hawke s Bay. In his time Mr Fitzherbert was an officer of many public and semi-public institutions. Ho was one of the Commissioners under the Lands for Settlement Act of 1894, and had sat on the Wellington Education Board and the Wellington Waste Lands Board, and was for five: years. Mayor of the Lower Hutt borough. Ho was a member, and at one time president, of the now defunct Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Association ; one of the promoters, and a director for many years, of tho Wellington Woollen Company; and a member and Past Grand Master of the.'Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. The lata Mr Fitzherbert took great interest in church matters, and was for some years a member of the Anglican Diocesan Synod. He served as a volunteer from 1832 to 1872, for the first six years being captain of the Hutt Rifles. This company did garrison duty at the time sixty Maoris made their eseapo from a hulk in Port Nicholson, and Air Fitzherbert’ s troop 1 was successful in seeming the only one of the fugitives captured. Ho then formed a company known as tho .Hutt Cavalry, of which ho was captain for four years. Tho deceased leaves a widow (daughter of tho late Mr G. M. Writer ho use), four sons, and five daughters. Ot the sous, Air Herbert Fitzherbert is an art student in London; Mr diaries Fitzherbert is a pastcralist in the Argentine, bub is at present on a visit to Wellington; and two younger sons are at school at Wanganui College. One of tho daughters is the wife: of < Professor Von Zedlitz, of Wellington: one is Mrs Latham, of Wellington; another is in London. Deceased was a .brother of Air Henry Fitzherbert, barrister, of Palmerston North, and of Mrs Holworthy, formerly • Lady : Buckley, of the Hutt.

The funeral of the late'Mr W. A. Fitzherbert took place on Sunday afternoon at the Lower Hutt. and was veiy largely attended. Amongst those present were the Right Hon Rdon,’Mr T. M. Wilford, and Mr W. H. P Barber, M.H.R.’s, the Mayor of Lowm- Hutt, members ot the knei Board ami‘Hutt Borough and many oilier well-known residents of the district.