OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 25

OBITUARY.

Mr Frank Horatio Hall (states our : special correspondent in Invercargill), whose death was reported on January 23,' was a native of Invercargill, and having served his apprenticeship with the late. Mr Macalister, .chemist, later started ■ in a ‘business on his own. account, but relinquished .it some 20 years ago. Mr Hail then followed various occupations,', but finally returned to -chemistry -as a dispenser at the Southland Hospital, which position he had occupied for the ■ past four years. About a month ago Mr Hall had a slight heart attack, but recovered from this, and at the time of his - death was apparently in good health. Our special correspondent in Invercar- '■ gill reports the death of Mrs R. W. : WiHiains, whose residence in Southland extended over 64 years. Mrs Williams came to Invercargill in 1863 from Melbourne with her parents, the late Mr and Mrs James Colyer. In 1873 she was married at Invercargill to Mr Richard William Williams, youngest son of the late Dr Robert Williams, of Dunedin. A few years ago, after residence in various parts of the province, Mrs Williams and her husband came to Invercargill to live in retirement. Mrs Williams is survived hy her husband and grown-up family of four daughters and five sons. An old and well-known resident of Invercargill, Mr William Martin, passed away on January 22 at the advanced age of 81 years (reports our special correspondent). Arriving at the Bluff from Scotland 50 years ago by the Christina M‘Cauland, Mr Martin settled in Invercargill, where he had ever -since resided. His first employment was on the Edendale cutting, and later he started in the coal and carrying ' business in partnership with -the late Mr ■ A. M‘Kell ar. For several years they held the railway contract, and when Mr M‘Kellar retired the business was continued by Mr Martin up till 1914. when be decided to take a well-earned rest. Mr Martin took a keen interest in public affairs and : was for many years a member of the South Invercargill Borough '"Council, and later ol the Invercargill Council. He was an active member of the Southland -Caledonian Society in its prosperous days, and in his -later years was an enthusiastic bowler, having been president of the Southland Bowling Club, of which he was a valued member. He leaves three daughters: Mes--dames Casey (Auckland), J. Murphy and H- Kilby (Invercargill), and two sons, Messrs W. and D. Martin, both of Invercargill. The death of Mr J. C. Olive ..at Wanton ■on January 23 removed a popular and highly esteemed citizen of that town. He was a native qf Dunedin, and for ' some years was employed by a leading insurance company, but left that occupa- ' tion to take up farming in the Balfour ■district. About five years ago he became the lessee of the Railway Hotel at Win ton, and subsequently acquired the freehold. During his term as proprietor he became generally popular, anil his death’ will be regretted by a large ' circle of friends. By the death at St. Clair a few days ' ago of Mr Peter Carlyle a well-known figure has been removed from Dunedin circles. The deceased gentleman was bom at Mosgiel in 1863, and was am the first pupils of the Dunedin Normal ' School. After taking a short teaching course, Mt Carlyle, in 1879, entered tee office of the Union Insurance Company (subsequently incorporated with + 'ie Alliance Assurance Company). In 1895, he was transferred to the company’s’ head office in .Sydney, and, after remaining there for four years, w.as promoted to the managership. of the Queensland branch, which position he occupied till his retirement in 1917. Well esteemed in business circles, his advice was eagerly sought and readily' given, his knowledge of insurance matters being both extensive and valuable. Returning to Dunedin nine years ago, he had since lived m semi-retirement, and enjoyed perfect nealth till a few weeks prior to his death. Mr Carlyle was married in 1891, and leaves a wife, two sons, and three daughters to mourn their loss. He was an ardent churchman, and his death will be keenly regretted by all who were privileged to know him. • from Hastings announces the death of M r Robert Welhvood, aged 91, the ° f Hastings, filling that office m 1880. He was torn m Kilkenny. Ireland and came to New Zealand in 1857, and farmed on the Heretaimga Plains. He was later at the gold rush in Ofaro and the west <_x>ast, but was unsuccessful and returned and purchased the Waikoko Homestead. He fawned what is now the A. and P. Society s show grounds. He later sold out and started auctioneering’ in Tlastines but again returned to farming. llas « n S s , The late Mt Frederick H-umffrav whoPassed away last week at,. the age j- S2 ' as o]d resident ©f Dunedin, and for many years he parried on a booksellers and stationer’s business in George street. He sold his business some years ago, and after the death of his wile lived in retirement with his daughter who also died a year or two ago. Since’ then Mr Humffray had lived alone in a smafi house at Macandrew Bav. Mr Humffray was a compositor -by trade, and RS n£ n c» + of few surviving members f 1 Times and Witness staff in the early sixties. The death is announced of Mt John James, who was a prominent officer in the tost and telegraph service -until his retirement some three years ago. Bor some 10 years or more he was a "’telegraph Operator tn Dunedin. He wag subsequently -promoted to the .position of postmaster at Naseby, .and later transferred to a similar position at Waipawa. It was, however in connection with the sport - of rowing that he was best known in Dunedin. He was one of the founders <. of the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, 'and in recognition of the immense amount pf work .-done.jor. this club he was .elected.- an honorary life member While in Melbourne on a visit he purchased and pretented an eight-oared boat to the D.A.8.C.,: which it is believed was the first eight-oared boat in New Zealand. Mr S. S. Myers "subsequently presented a similar boat to the North End Boating Club, and the. first eight-oared boat race was held iff -Dunedin in 1898’ Deceased was one of ‘the ...founders" of tlfo Otago Rowing Association '.along —with Messrs M. J. and 1?. Priest he took a prominent part in organising a trades rowing tournament, held in 1893, which gave

rowing in Otago an immense Clip. Ho was a voluminous contributor of rowing notes io the Otago Daily Times, and his love of the sport prompted him to. spend all his spare time in furthering its interests. When Mr James retired from the public service- he devoted some attention to ■bowling and golf. For the past three years he had been an invalid, but throughout _ his trying illness he maintained the genial spirit which characterised him "throughout his life. He is survived by a widow and a grown-up son, both of whom reside in Dunedin. The death is recorded in Melbourne of "Mr J. W. Duncan, who was for 37 years superintendent of the cable tramway power house and tracks in that city. Mr Duncan was born in Dunedin, in 1850, and entered into partnership here with his brother, Mr George Duncan, who designed the Roslyn cable tramway system and in 1884 was commit honed to design and superintend the construction of the Melborne cable tramway system, by far the most important system of the kind ever carried out. Mr J. W. Duncan meanwhile had gone to Sydney in connection with the construction of the North Shore tramways, and it was while thus engaged that he accepted the appointment of superin- • tendent of power houses and tracks of thei Melbourne cable tramway system. SIR HARRY BRETT. ’ j AUCKLAND, January 30. 1 The Auckland Star, in the late edition : .last night, in announcing the death of "Sir Henry Brett, its managing director, ‘ which followed an operation in King "George V Hospital, Rotorua, said:—“Sir Henry was born in St. Leonards-on-Sea, -"Sussex, England, in 1843, and at the age of 19 came to New Zealand with the lAlbertland settlers in the ship Hanover. He had a brilliant career as a shipping re- • porter on the Southern Cross and tile New Zealand Herald, and in 1870 purchased an interest in the Star, which had been ' started a few months before. For S 7 years he was connected with the journal, 1 and built it up to its present position as • one of the premier evening newspapers in " the Dominion. “Apart from his business activities, he filled many important public positions, in-; eluding that of .the Mayor of the city. His two great hobbies were...music and i horticulture, in both of which spheres he exercised a marked .influence in Auckland, and, in fact, in New Zealand. Auckland ; received several marks of his generosity, . the main one being the presentation to the ■ city of the grand, organ in the Town Hall, the largest in New Zealand. Both music and horticulture experienced his generosity, and at the time of his death he occupied several positions at the head of various organisations connected with those; two interests. “Recently he suffered from a severe cold, but had recovered, and had gone up to Rotorua to recuperate. He was progressing satisfactorily until Thursday, when he was seized with severe gastric trouble, and was ordered into hospital. A small operation was performed on Friday, but. he gradually sank, passing peacefully away this evening at half-past 5. He had a remarkable careei’ in "many respects, and right up .to. the last retained his faculties .in full vigour, taking the keenest interest, iiot\ohly in journalism," but in his hobbies, and also in cricket, air outdoor sport for--which he did so much during his long and busy .life. ■- '■••■■ Henry was connected -with the New Zealand Press Association, of. which body he was for 40 years a director until his resignation about three, years ago. He was elected chairman on many occasions, and was an able and valuable member of the board. He was also a member of the -committee of the New Zealand, .section of the Empire Press Union/'Shd took an active interest in its affairs. - “Sir Henry is survived by Lady Brett, two sons and two daughters. There are 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchil-dren.” MRS STUDHOLME. (From Our Own Correspondent-) I _ LONDON, December 15 . In ‘Paris, on December 1, the death occurred of a very well known New Zealand lady, Lucy Ellen Sykes Studhohne, widow of John Studhohne, of Merivale -Christchurch. It is some years since Mrs Studhohne was last in the Dominion, but she has a number of relatives and friends resident there who will regret to hear of her death. Although she was. in her eighty-ninth year, Mrs Studholme was still fond of travel, and she was very independent, robust health enabling her to move about as she pleased. For the winter she had installed herself in a delightful flat in Paris, just off Hie Champs Elysees. Until the beginning of November she was enjoying her customary, health, when experienced a stroke. .From this, however, she recovered, but -another. seizure occurred; on November 30, and next day she passed away peacefully in her sleep. At her own wish her remains were cremated in Paris, and a service was held at the Embassy Church "there. Her aslies were then brought to England, -and have been laid in the grave of her husband, in Rrinsdole Churchyard, Cumber-, •and.— Drily the immediate relatives now in the Mother Country were present at the final ceremony, which took place on December 10. Although bonsidnralily’ advanced in years Mrs -Stu<lholme,‘topk a "keen interest in all the topics of the jay, as well as a special interest in all those who belonged to her.. Her memory was as clear as ever until a few days before tiie end. Mrs btudholme was always very fond of Baris, bhe was there first as -a child, and had many interesting recollections of that time and of the thrilling incidents associated with the Revolution. Later on she was there again, at a finishing school, with her sisters, Mrs Rhodes and ATrs Wigley—that was. in the time of Napoleon TH, and tiie always Rad-many in-; teresting ; reminiscences to tell of chose far off days, too. ' :