OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2842, 2 September 1908, Page 30

OBITUARY.

BARON STERNBURG.

BERLIN, August 25.

Baron Speck yon Sternburig, ex- German/ Ambassador at Washington, died at Heidelberg.

The Kaiser, in his message of condolence to the late Baron' 6 brother, cays : "I sincerely mourn a splendid ambassador. His services to the Fatherland ensure him my gratitude beyond the grave." NEW YORK, August 26.

President Roosevelt has telegraphed to the German Charge d'Affaires as follows: — "I am shocked and igrieved at the deaih of Baron Sternburg. He vras not orly my intimate and personal friend and one of the most fearless, sincere, and loyal men I have ever met, but as a diplomatist of signal ability he served Germany with fervent patriotism, and yet showed such *an intelligent goodwill towards America that it would be difficult to overestimate the value of the work he d&d in strengthening and twanging closer the ties of friendship between the two countries. I mourn the loss for my own sake deeply, and regret it for the sake of the people of the United States. 1 '

SIR EYRE MASSEY SHAW.

LONDON. August 26

The death of Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, a director of the Metropolitan Electric Compnuy, is announced.

[Sir Eyre Maesey Shaw was 78 years of age, and was an Irishman. He was an expert in fire-fighting organisation, and v:as the author of many publications on the subject. He vt&a chief of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (London) from 1361 to 1891, and was made a freeman of the City of London in 1892. He was knighted iv 1891.]

M. BECQUEREL. LONDON, August 26

The death of M. Henri Becquerel, the discoverer of the Becquerel rays, is announced.

j [Antoine Henri Beequerel W2« a noted French electrician. He was born at Paris .in 1852. In 1885 he was promoted to the first class of engineer, and became assistant

professor at the Polytechnic in 1889. He

wrote several scientific work«. an*-] was cecorated with the orov.n of tv€ L2gK.ll of 1 Hoßcur in 1882.]

MR ANTONIO PASTOR.

NEW YORK, August 29.

The death of Mr Tony Pastor, musichall proprietor, is announced.

Antonio Pastor was born in New York in 1837. He made hie first appearance on the stage at the age of nine years with a minstrel troupe. He appeared frequently in New York as clown with the various circus companies, and followed this .profession for 15 years. In 1861 he commenced his career as a comic singer, and four years later he started as a music- hall manager. From 1865 till 1875 he was located at 201 Bowery, and hi the latter year he opened the Metropolitan Theatre as Tony Pastor's Theatre, and remained there until 1881. It was at this theatre that Lillian Russell, Nat Goodwin, Francis Wilson, May Irwin, and others made their first successes. In 1881 Mr Pastor migrated to the bouse over which he 'presided &t the time of his death.

EARL ROSSE.

LONDON, August 31.

The death of Earl Reese is announced.

The Earl of Rosse, who was a representative peer for Ireland since 1868, was A son of the third earl, who was ' president of the' Royal Society, and who built the famous telescope at Binr. The fourth earl was born in 1840? and succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1867. He had been Chancellor of the University of Dublin since 1885, And his Majesty's Lieutenant of, Kind's County since 1892. He was president of the Royal Dublin Society from 1887 till 1892, and president of the Royal Irish Academy' from 1895 till 1900. The heir to the title is Lord Qxmantown.

MR. A. D. WILLIS. GISBOBNE, August 27. Mr A. D. Willis, ex-M.H.R. for Wanga,nui, died tfhis afternoon. He was seized with illness on board the steamer Monowar on the voyage from Auckland about 11 days ago, ana w*s conveyed to a private hospital in Gisborne. His condition was very critical for several days, but he gradually improved, and two days ago wits thought to be out of danger. His strength/ however, failed, and yescerday afternoon his condition again became such as to cause his family great anxiety. He gradually sank, and passed away about 3-40 this afternoon. Mrs Willis and two sons arrived from last week. WANGANUI, August 27.

Profound regret was expressed in town to-night when word was received that Mr A. D. Willis had passed away. The deceased, who was 66 years of age, had been resident in Wa<nganui for 30 years, and was one of the most prominent public men. He was associated with the Borough Council, Harbour Board; etc. Olt Archibald Duddingston Willis was born in Middlesex (England) in 18+2. He arrived at Auckland in 1857 in the ship Dinapore, and followed the printing trade. He founded the Hawke's Bay Herald, and was a partner with the late Mr John Ballanoe in ttie Wangaimi Herald. He- represented Wanganui in Parliament in- 189396, and 1899-1905.]