OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23785, 17 April 1939, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR R. C. TENNENT The death of Mr Robert Collins Tennent, at the age of 90 years, at Woodville on Friday removed one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of personalities associated with banking in New Zealand. Joining the service of the Bank of New South Wales in Nelson in 1869. Mr Tennent on his retirement in 1918 had completed 50 years’ service as an officer of the bank, and for 40 years of that time he had acted as manager at various branches, including Auckland, Wellington. Blenheim, Nelson and Invercargill. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Mr Tennent was educated at Guernsey College. With his mother and four brothers, he came to New Zealand as a lad, the family settling in Nelson. In his younger days he was a well-known athlete and Rugby footballer, and he was a member of the Nelson team, in the first interprovincial Rugby match played in New Zealand, against Wellington in Hutt in 1871; In that match he was responsible for the only score of the game, a penalty goal. He was also a splendid middle distance runner, winning many trophies for half-mile and mile events. After his retirement in 1918 he lived in Napier, but eight or nine years ago removed to Woodville. Mr Tennent is survived by his widow, five sons, and two daughters. The sons are Mr L. C. Tennent (South Africa), who recently visited New Zealand after an absence of 39 years. Mr H. D. Tennent (Dunedin). Mr H. C. Tennent (Honolulu), Mr K. B. Tennent (Howick. Auckland), who stood for Parliament in the National Party’s interests at the last general election, and Dr Allan Tennent (Wellington). The daughters are Mrs W. Olphert (Lower Hutt) and Mrs Norman Branson (Te Araroa, East Coast) CAPTAIN C. M. RENAUT (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Apl. 16. A remarkable family association with ships and the sea was broken by the death at London on Saturday, of Captain Charles Malcolm Renaut, formerly of Christchurch, at the age of 69 years. It was an association that comprehended the best part of a century, three generations of sea-captains, the change from sail to steam, and. indeed, from steam to motor power. Captain Renaut’s grandfather Captain William Renaut. brought to Otago in 1848 the Blundell the third immigrant ship to - arrive there, and first to be entered in the Customs records at Port Chalmers His father, Captain C. H. Renaut, was famous as the captain of the clipper ship Crusader, which made record passages from New Zealand to England, and also of the Pleione and other ships of the Shaw Savill Company’s early fleet. Captain C M Renaut first served with his father in sailing-ships, later transferred to steam, and for many years commanded vessels of the Union Steam Ship Company He was appointed surveyor of ships in the Marine Department, Auckland, in 1911, and was transferred to Lyttelton in 1923, being appointed Superintendent of Mercantile Marine there in 1929 He retired in May, 1935 Captain Renaut went to England early last year, and he and Mrs Renaut. formerly Miss Isabella Ormiston. of Dunedin intended returning to New Zealand in November next. He is survived by one son. Mr J. O. Renaut, of London, and two daughters. Mrs R T. Roberts, of Wellington, and Mrs L M. Aitken, of Christchurch REV. WILLIAM JOSEPH O’LEARY SYDNEY. Apl. 16 (Received Apl. 17, at 1.30 a.m.) The death has occurred of the Rev William Joseph O’Leary, formerly director of the Riverview observatory and a leading authority on earthquakes; aged 70. He collapsed and died while playing golf to-day at Ryde. COMMISSIONER MRS LAMB LONDON. Apl. 16 (Received Apl. 16, at 10 p.m.) The death has occurred of Commissioner Mrs Lamb of the Salvation Army.