OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23884, 11 August 1939, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR H. D. THOMSON Well known as a member of the famous 1905 All Blacks, Mr H. D. Thomson, more popularly known as “ Mona ” Thomson, died in Wellington on Wednesday. Born in Wellington, Mr Thomson was educated at the Christchurch Boys’- High School and Wellington College. He was a son of Mr A. B. Thomson, Wellington, and a brother of Mr F. D. Thomson, former head of the Prime Minister’s Department. In 1897 he joined the engineers' branch of the Railways Department, and remained there till 1906, when he went to the Old Age Pensions Department, as district registrar. In 1909 he was given charge of the Gov; ernment Shipping Office, and in 1913 was transferred to the Immigration Department as chief clerk. In 1916 he was appointed Chief Immigration Officer for New Zealand, and was promoted to under-secretary for immigration in 1920. Mr Thomson held that position till 1932, when he retired after 35 years in the public service. Mr Thomson had a remarkable career in Rugby football. He played for Wellington College and represented Canterbury, Wellington, Wanganui, Taranaki and East Coast, Auckland. North Island and South Island, crowning his career by becoming one of the famous All Blacks which toured England in 1905. His position in play was wing-three-quarter. For many years Mr Thomson was a member of the Thorndon Bowling Club. ... u - Mr Thomson is survived by his wife, a son, Dr lan Thomson (Westport), a daughter, Miss Lorna Thomson (Wellington), and a brother, Mr A. N. Thomson (manager of the Bank of New Zealand, New Plymouth). MRS M. G. GEDDES The death occurred this week of Mrs M. G. Geddes. widow of Mr Samuel Wilson Geddes. Mr and Mrs Geddes lived their married life at Naseby from 1900 until they settled in Dunedin in 1906. Mrs Geddes was well known both in Central Otago and Dunedin for her kind works and ready sympathy. She was an enthusiastic church worker, being a vice-president of St. Matthew’s Church. She is survived by four of a family—Mr A. S. Geddes. of Christchurch and Mr H. R. Geddes. of Dunedin: Mrs Harper White, of Auckland: and Mrs David Forsyth, of Port Chalmers.