OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22824, 7 March 1936, Page 14

OBITUARY

MR JOHN BLAIR The death is announced of Mr John Blair, who was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs John Blair, well-known residents of Abbotsford, Green Island. After receiving his primary education under his father at Walton Park School, Mr Blair attended the Otago Boys' High School. On the completion of his apprenticeship to the engineering trade with Messrs A. and T. Burt, Mr Blair went to Glasgow to gain further experience in his trade. He joined the Shire Steamship Company and served in a number of the Shire boats, rising to the position of chief engineer of the Perthshire. It is worthy of note that when the Perthshire was adrift on the Tasman Sea for six weeks with a broken tail shaft, Mr Blair and his assistants succeeded in repairing the shaft, and the ship was steaming along at four knots near Lord Howe Island when the captain decided it would be advisable to be taken in tow by the Talune. Mr Blair's brilliant feat was very highly commended by Australian engineers. He later brought out the Kaikoura on her maiden voyage. Retiring from the sea Mr Blair took service with Messrs Borthwick Bros, as chief engineer and works manager at the Paki Paki Freezing Works, Hawke's Bay. Later he was transferred to Waitara, Taranaki, where he occupied a similar position. Two years ago he retired from active service to live at New Plymouth. Mr Blair was a man of the highest integrity and his conscientious and faithful work and his kindly and just nature won for him not only the confidence of his employers, but also the respect and esteem of the men? He was a publicspirited man and gave his services freely to the church and to civic affairs. He is survived by his wife, one son, two brothers—Captain A. D. Blair (Sydney), and Air George Blair (Nelson) and two sisters—Mrs Gow (Auckland) and Mrs W. A. Sproat (Anderson's Bay). MR TREVOR SIMPSON (Pkb United I'incss Association) AUCKLAND, March «. The death is announced of Air Trevor Simpson, aged 41, racing editor of the New Zealand Herald. MR WILLIAM F. BADE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, March 5. (Received March 6, at 10 p.m.) The death has occurred of William F. Bade, aged 05, an internationally famous archasologist and discoverer of the lost city of Mizpah, in Palestine.