OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22098, 31 October 1933, Page 9

OBITUARY

MRS. HARRIET HERON (Contributed.) Mrs Harriet A. Herron, who passed away at her residence, “ Teviot,” Roxburgh, on Saturday last, at the advanced age of 97 years, was the type of pioneer who will be proudly remembered by those admitted to her friendship and acquaintance. As one who knew her intimately for about 67 years, it seemed fitting to express publicly an appreciation of her many fine qualities. Her long life abounded in acts of kindness and charity, and she is most sincerely mourned by a very wide circle of friends. She was a native of Deal, Kent, and arrived in New Zealand in 1858, and was married in Timaru two years later to Mr H, H. Heron, a son of Major Heron, who was commandant of Cockatoo Island,,Sydney.

Upon hearing of the Tuapeka gold rushes Mr Heron decided to go there. Nowadays one cannot fully realise the long and arduous journey on horseback and pack saddle. Mrs Heron, in her narratives of the past, made light of the hardships that had to be experienced. It was to her “a great adventure,” teeming with interest. After a short stay in Dunedin, the journey was continued over the Tokomairiro Plains and thence on to Lawrence, which’was then a town of canvas. There Mr Heron commenced a butchery business, but becoming, amongst many others, smitten with the gold fever, he proceeded to Roxburgh and Fourteen Mile Beach, where some hundreds of miners, representing all nationalities, were working with good results. Mr Heron engaged in a large mining venture, buying and selling gold to the banks. He built, also, a store and butchery on the banks of the Molyneux, and continued in this business for 14 years. During that period Mrs Heron had many and varied experiences. For over three years she was without the companionship of another woman, and on one occasion, in the absence of Mr Heron and the miners in the immediate vicinity of her home, she entertained unawares two of the Maungatua bushrangers and murderers. In 1876 Mr Heron became proprietor of the old Commercial Hotel, Roxburgh, which was well and favourably known to the travelling public of the old coaching days. Some years after Mr Heron’s death, Mrs Heron built the new Commercial Hotel, a commodious building, and conducted it worthily and well for years, but eventually disposed of the property to Mr M. Sloper. Mrs Heron’s name will always be mentioned with respect throughout the district in which she spent so many years of her life. In the little town of Roxburgh which she saw grow from a very small beginning, she wished to spend the evening of her days —a wish that was fulfilled. She has entered her long rest, honoured and respected. She was fittingly called the “ Grand-* old "lady of Roxburgh,” for she was an outstanding type of the woman pioneer of the sixties. MR G. N. GOLDIE (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 30. At his residence, Austin street, yesterday, Mr George N. Goldie died as the result of heart failure. Born at Port Chalmers 65 years ago, he had resided in Wellington for over 40 years. In that time he earned the respect and esteem of the business community of Wellington, and made for himself in local and national lawn tennis a name long to be remembered for self-sacrificing work. The high plane which the game has attained to-day in this country is very largely due to his efforts. Appointed in 1903, he was for many years the honorary secretary of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, and right up to the time of his death he was a member of the council. He was also an honorary life member of the New Zealand Association, as well as of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association. For many years he was on the selection committee of both the New Zealand and the Wellington Associations, for many years on the management committee of both associations, and several times he managed touring lawn tennis teams. DR CALMETTE (United Press Association.) (By Electric TeleErsi'h— Ponyrlght.) LONDON, October 29. The death is announced of Dr Calmette. \ Dr Leon Charles Calmette was born at Nice in 1863. He was sub-director of the Pasteur Institute, Paris, since 1917. He was also honorary professor of bacteriology and hygiene at the University of Lille. He was founder and first director of the Pasteur Institute at Saigon, and was a fellow of the Royal Society, 'the Royal Society of Medicine, and a member of the Academy of Sciences and Academy of Medicine, Paris. DEATH FOLLOWS OPERATION. PARIS, October 29. (Received Oct. 30, at 11.55 p.m.) Dr Calmette’s death followed an operation • for an internal complaint. For his serum, known as BCG, it is claimed that it will immunise newly born infadts from tuberculosis. Millions of babies in Europe have thus far been treated. German experts declare that the tragedy at Lubock in August. 1932, was not Dr Calmette’s fault. The scrum cultures had been mixed. Dr Calmette was born in the same year and died on' the same day as M. Painleve. Both had been professors at Lille University. MR EDWARD HUGH' SOTHERN SHAKESPEAREAN ACTOR. NEW YORK, October 29. The death is announced of Mr Edward Hugh Sothern, the famous American Shakespearean actor of a generation ago, due to pneumonia. His wjfe, Julia Marlowe Coplayer, was at the bedside. Both returned from England three weeks ago, where the actor became ill. REV. ALEXANDER MILLER SYDNEY, October 30, The death is announced of the Rev. Alexander Miller. He died suddenly at

Chatswood. He was formerly minister of the Presbyterian Church at Westport and of a church in Auckland.