OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM KERR The death occurred recently at Invercargill at the age of 67 years of Mr William Kerr, who had to his credit a fine record of service with the New Zealand Railways. Mr Eerr, who was held in high regard in many parts of the Dominion; was very well-known in Southland, where at different- times he served at many stations. His efficiency and unfailing courtesy won for him a most enviable reputation. He was keenly interested in sport as a youth and being a very fine runner and hurdler he competed with success, at ‘ many district athletic gatherings. Recently he became ill and his subsequent death has come in the nature of a shock, as his many friends confidently anticipated that he would make a quick recovery. Mr Kerr, who was born in the Taieri district, entered the service of the Post and Telegraph Department at Outram in May, 1879, as telegraph messenger. He was at the time 14 years of age. He remained with that department until August, 1881, when he transferred into the Railways Department as a cadet at Herbert, near Oaraaru, remaining there until January, 1882. His next move was to Winton as a cadet, and he was there until April, 1885, when he was transferred to Edendale, where he spent a year before he was appointed stationmaster at Orepuki. This position he retained until February, 1887, when he became etationraaster at Longbush until November, 1888. He was next stationmaster at Woodlands until December, 1897, when he went to Reefton, where he stayed until April, 1900. Subsequently he returned south and held positions as stationmaster at Milburn (May, 1900 to July, 1902), Balfour (July, 1902 to April, 1905), and Winton (April, 1905 to January, 1907). He was then transferred to Invercargill as relieving officer for the district, and held the position until November, 1909, when he was promoted to the position of stationmaster at Bluff. He remained there until January, 1915, when he took charge of the Oamaru station for a year before becoming stationmaster at Invercargill in December, 1916, which position he held till he retired on January 31, 1919. 'Upon completing 40 years’ service he went to live at Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, but later went to Invercargill, where he spent the last years of his life. He is survived by his widow and an adult family of four daughters and two sons: Mesdames S. Norris* J. Aldridge (Dunedin), G. Mitchell (Ocean Beach), and Miss Daphne Kerr (Invercargill), and- Messrs John Kerr (Carterton) and William Kerr (Invercargill).

MR C. HAROLD SMITH AMERICAN MILLIONAIRE. {United Press association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, September 2. The death is announced of Mr C. Harold Smith, aged 72, the American millionaire “ carbon king,” on the eve of the Completion of his annual holiday. He went to New Zealand at the age of 15 from London. He wandered from a lumber camp, and was lost in the bush, where he lived for three days on fern roots. He at length reached a Maori encampment. There he fell in love with a beautiful Maori girl. She died, giving Mr Smith on her deathbed a greenstone talisman from her neck, which Mr Smith has worn on his watch chain all his life.