OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20961, 26 February 1930, Page 10

OBITUARY.

THE REV. N. TURNER. The death occurred on Wednesday even-' ing last of the Rev. Nicholas Turner, a Christchurch Methodist minister. Mr Turner was a native of Tonbridge Wells, England, coming to New Zealand with his parents as a boy in the ship Helen Denny, receiving his early education here. From the age of 'll he was a local preacher in the Methodist Church. As a young man he went over to Victoria and joined the Salvation Army, rapidly rising to the rank of major. He at various times held important territorial commands in Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. Later he was transferred to the Christchurch Division, from which he resigned his commission and reentered th., Methodist Church. For many years he laboured in the Durham Street Circuit, and he had been stationed in many circuits throughout New Zealand, including Gore and Oamaru, while he had on occasions occupied the pulpit of the various Methodist churches in Dunedin. Mr Turner was responsible for the formation of the Wellington Central Mission about 25 years ago, an organisation that had by repute the finest brass band possessed by' any religious organisation in the Dominion at that time, and he was a familiar figure march ing at head of his band through the Wellington streets each Sunday evening. He removed to Auckland, and while in charge of the Methodist Central Mission he was chosen as organising secretary for the Chapman-Aloxandra Mission in the British Isles, and while on that tonr had the distinction of preaching in the Church of the Covenanters in Scotland. He had also preached in many churches in the United States. Oh the completion of the tour ho returned to New Zealand, and continued in his pastoral work until ill-health compelled him to retire from regular church work. Mr Turner has held many high offices in the Loyal Orange Lodge of Christchurch,, of which he has been a prominent member for many years. He is survived by his widow and a large family comprising Messrs N. C. M„ F. J., and Herbert Turner (Christchurch), Mrs W. Parker, and Messrs H. V. and A. W.Turner (Auckland), Mrs S. Hildreth and Mr H. Turner (Wellington), and Mrs H. Fulton and Mr Stan Turner (Dunedin).