OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22269, 23 May 1934, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR D. A. AIKEN (Pee United Press Association .) WELLINGTON, May 22. The death occurred at Heretaunga today as the result of a heart attack of Mr David Alexander Aiken, managing director of the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr Aiken,- who was : in his seventy: first year, had been associated with the Union Company for 51 years. He was well known and highly respected in shipping, mercantile and business circles. , Mr Aiken, who was born at Wanganui in 1864, was educated at the Wanganui Collegiate School, End as a lad entered the service of the firm of Messrs W. H. Watt and Co. In 1883 he joined the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand at Wellington; and after holding various positions in the company’s service and gaining a close insight into the various aspects of the shipping business he was promoted to the post of assistant general manager in 1908, having previously been the company’s inspector. In 1914 he became general manager, and, after haying'held a seat on the board of directors for some years, be was made managing director in 1931. The period during which Mr Aiken was general manager of the company thus included the war years, and his already arduous responsibilities were made Increasingly difficult by the revision of-practically the whole of the company’s shipping service consequent on the taking over by the Government of a number of the units of the Red Funnel fleet as hospital ships and transports. He spent many years of his business life in Dunedin, and removed to Wellington in January, 1922, when the head office ’ management was transferred to that city. An outstanding feature of his long service was his personal popularity with the company’s staff, both ashore and afloat He was widely known in shipping circles not only in this country but also in Australia. The jubilee of his entry into the company was marked in January last year, when the directors and senior members of the staff of the head office assembled to congratulate him. Mr Aiken took no part in public life, the heavy work entailed by his position making too severe a-demand on-his powers to allow of his devoting any of his time to outside affairs. ; 1 The deceased’s wife, by whom he Is survived, was formerly Miss Commin, of Dunedin. There was no family. MRS C. M. REID The death occurred on May 14 at her residence, Ravensdale,” West .Taieri, of Mrs G. -M. Reidj wife of the late Mr William W. Reid, one of the pioneer settlers of the Taieri. The deceased, who was the eldest daughter of the late Mr Alexander Kilgour, of Dunedin, was born at Waikouaiti. in 1864, and after her marriage to Mr Reid went to reside at “ Allendale,” ■in the Lee Stream district. About 27 years ago, Mr Reid bought part of the late Mr James Fulton’s estate, “ Ravenscliffe,” and herethe family has since lived. Mrs_ Reid, who was a very devoted mother, is survived by n family of six sons and seven daughters who with her mother are left to mourn their loss. Mrs Reid was a staunch supporter of the Presbyterian Church, and was one of the original members of the West Taieri branch of the P.W-M.U. Failing health for the past three years compelled her to live very quietly, but she continued her keen interest in all activities concerning the welfare of the district. She was, a member of the Qtago Early Settlers’ Association. Dunedin, in which she took a warm personal interest. Her passing will be mourned by a large circle of friends. MRS C. W. HALLETT In the passing of Mrs Catherine Whyte Hallett on Saturday last Waikpuaiti loses one who had been continuously associated with the life of that district for a period of 72 years. The eldest daughter of the late Mr James I. Scott, of “ Viewbank,” Waikouaiti, Mrs Hallett was born at Droughty Ferry, Scotland, , in 1856, arriving with ber parents at Port Chalmers in 1862 by the ship Black Swan'after a protracted voyage of 107 days from Plymouth. In 1877 she married Mr Benjamin Hallett, who predeceased her by 16 months. With her husband, Mrs Hallett was connected with the church life and various organisations of St. John’s, Waikouaiti. for well over half a century. Of a quiet but hospitable disposition, Mrs Hallett made many friends during her long residence in the district. Two sons, Messrs James and Ben Hallett, fell in the Great War, the surviving members of the family being Mrs P. Kane (Corriedalc), Miss Hallett (Waikouaiti), and Messrs George Hallett (Herbert) and A. S. Hallett (Dunedin). ■ - MRS MAKQ CARROLL , (Per United Press Association.) • WAIROA, May 22. The death occurred yesterday of a very old and respected resident in the person of Mrs Mako Carroll, relict cf Mr Thomas Carroll, a brother of Sir James Carroll. The deceased, who was 78 years of age, came from a notable Maori family on the East Coast, She leaves two sons and one daughter. The sons are prominent farmers. One is Mr A. T. Carroll, who is a member of various local bodies in the district and also chairman of the Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Company, and in all probability will assume the mantle of Sir Apirana Kgata when the time comes for the latter to retire from politics. The daughter is married to Mr George Ormond, another prominent farmer of the district. A tangi, which will be attended by representatives from all parts of the Tairawhiti, is now proceeding. MR R. T. WARNOCK (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 22. The death occurred to-day of Mr Robert Taylor Warnock, aged 90, one of the pioneers of Auckland and a former Mayor of Newton before, its merger in the city.