MOTOR FATALITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 37

MOTOR FATALITY.

DEATH OF THE REV. W. W. BROWN.

LADY PASSENGER BADLY INJURED. A fatal motor accident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the corner of Gladstone and Riccarton roads, which resulted in the death of the Rev. W. W. Brown, Presbyterian minister of East Taieri. It appears that Mr Brown had left in his motor car, accompanied by Mrs J. R. Waddell, wife of the East Taieri schoolmaster,, at about 2 o'clock to hold the service at Allanton. He was proceeding along Gladstone road, and had reached its intersection with Riccarton road, when a car driven by Mr R. Green, coal mine proprietor, of Green Island, which had been travelling along Riccarton road, struck his car. One of the baclt wheels of Mr Brown's car came off, and the car turned over twice, striking Mr Brown, who died within three minutes of the accident. Mrs Waddell was very seriously injured, and was taken by the ambulance to a private hospital in Dunedin, where she remained in a semi-conscious condition. The Rev. Mr Brown was a native of Invercargill, where his father was long in business as a blacksmith in Tay street After the necessary preparation, Mr Brown entered the Otago University, and took a full course there, and subsequently studied theology at the Presbyterian Theological College, under Professors Dunlop and Watt He was a good student, and continued his studious habits. He had a_ wide knowledge of literature, which made his preaching both attractive and effective. As a preacher he had few equals in the ministry of the Presbyterian Church, and it was not an unknown thing for visitors to go from Dunedin .to East Taieri to hear him. Of an almost, shy nature, he shrank from publicity, but when he was induced to take the public platform he was listened to with respect and appreciation. He was ordained to the ministry at Dipton in 1897. and took charge of the congregation there for some years. From thore he was called to Limestone Plains, and in time he went on to Stirling, and from Stirling to Mataura. But for a serious accident that . befel him while at Stirling he probably would have accepted a call extended to him from Chalmers Church, Timaru. It was during his ministry 'at Mataura that he took up war service under the Y.M.0.A.. and afterwards, as a chaplain, did good work both in charge of the Presbyterian Institute at Featherston and an the hospital ships. Some time after he returned a very hearty call. was given to him by East Taieri, which he accepted_, and laboured there with marked success till he was so suddenly called away. Pie was unmarried and was heW in the highest esteem by his co-Presbyters. Ho has two brothers —Mr J. R. Brown, manager of the National Mortgage Company in Christchurch, and Mr G. B. Brown, who is in business in Invercargill.