OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 27

OBITUARY.

A Thames telegram announces the death of Mr Albert Bruce, at one time town clerk and treasurer there. Deceased was born in Sydney in 1848. The death occurred at his residence at St. Clair, on Tuesday, of Mr James W. Henton,■ in his 84th year. Mr Henton was born at Liverpool in 1843. His father was a master manner and was engaged in the dry fruit trade from the Mediterranean, to Liverpool, long before the days of steam, rhe late Mr Henton was educated in London at a private school. At the age of 14 years he joined his parents in NeW Zealand. This vyas in 1851 the time of the Victorian gold rush. His father was for some years running his own vessel between Wellington and Gisborne till ho iaine to grief in Banks Strait. After ■this he took up a run in Hawke’s Bay on the Ruataniwha plains, but the land boom came on and he had to quit.,. The family returned to the Home Country for a few months, and the deceased then returned to the colony, landing at Auckland. Ho joined the firm of H. and E. Youngman and Co., the founders of the present well known firm of Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., and remained with the firm for 54 years, passing through all the grades, and on the death of Mr T. W. Kempthorne he was ' appointed general manager, from which position he retired in 1918. He still retained a seat on the board of directors, however. Mr Henton leaves a grown-up family of three daughters and two sons. The Otago Education Board has made the following appointments:—Miss M. J. Tempero, sole teacher at Kauru Hill; Miss A. F. Wallace'; sole teacher at Lower Harbour; Miss M. M’K? Carson, sole teacher at Makarora; Miss E. N. S. Vickers, sole teacher at Nevis; Miss N. B. Campbell, assistant at Moeraki; Mr A. A. Harrison, sole teacher at Wairuna; Mr R. M‘Lay, secondary assistant at Alexandra.

There passed away at Hawea Flat recently, at the age of 58 years, one who had taken a prominent part in the activities of the district during the past quarter of a century in the person of Mr Donald M’Lennan; Deceased was the third son of the late Mr Donald McLennan, of Blairn Hall, who had predeceased him by a period of 10 years, and the late Mrs Elspeth M’Lennan. The—late Mr M’Lennan. who had carried on farming pursuits for a number of years with his brother at Hawea Flat, was well and favourably known and highly esteemed in the district for his sterling qualities. Although he had not taken a very 'active part in public matters, he had exercised some influence toward the public walfare. Of him it may be truly said that he had no enemies and that he will be missed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Thirty years ago Mr M’Lennan was a noted deer-stalker and guide, and played a prominent part in making the North Otago deer forest widely known. He had to a large extent developed the potentialities of the forest by his introduction and guidance of overseas visitors into the hitherto impenetrable fastnesses of the forest, where they were rewarded with tropn.es that stood as specimens that could not be rivalled in any part of the world. In more than one publication overseas deer-stalkers have placed on record their appreciation of the services rendered to them by Mr M’Lennan in obtaining . those highly-prized trophies. The funeral, Which was largely represented, took place at the Hawea Cemetery, the Rev. Mr Ryley officiating for the last time before leaving the district at the advanced age of 94. The many floral tributes from far and near gave evidence of the popularity of the deceased. The numerous friends throughout New Zealand of Mr W. S. Dustin, the wellknown caterer, of Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Wellington, will regret (says our Wanganui correspondent) to learn of his death, which took place on Saturday afternoon. Deceased, who was 66 years ot age. was intimately associated with the progress of Wanganui, having been a borough councillor for many years, besides performing ether public functions. He was chief petty officer of the old Wanganui Naval Brigade and was captain of the Wanagnui Guards. When the Great War broke out he volunteered his services. As a sports enthusiast he gave great encouragement to all amateur bodies. He went Home with the original All Blacks, and was also one of the officials of the last All Black team to tour the Old Country. Ho took ill when at Home, and it was thought then that he would not see New Zealand again. However, with good medical attention, he was not only able to reach the Dominion again but he recovered sufficiently to take an active interest in business affairs. Just lately, however, his illness had a marked effect on him, and his death was not altogether unexpected. He was a citizen of which any town and city might be justly proud, and his passing is a great loss to Wanganui. He leaves a family of five sons and three daughters. A cable message from London announces tb* death of Mr Henry Frowde, late publisher to the University of Oxford, aged 86 years.

THE LATE CAPTAIN RAMSAY. The late Captain James M’Nicoll Ramsay, whose death was briefly referred to in last week’s issue, had reached the age of 74 years. He was the second son of , e . Rev< James Ramsay, of Alyth, Perthshire, _ Scotland, and was born on June 5, 1852. He was educated at the Dundee Grammar School. In 1868, at the age of 16 years, he became an apprentice in the barque Hanilah, which was then trading to the Far East. He subsequently served on the Annie Lady Bamfield, in the New York-Antwerp trade. Later he was on vessels of the Allan Line, running to Canadian ports, and finally he was an officer of the ship Wild Deer, which carried immigrants to New Zealand. 'As second mate on this ship he very nearly lost his life in an effort to rescue a boy who had fallen overboard. One of the passengers by the vessel on the occasion referred to was Mr Haddon Dennison, at present a resident of Oamaru._ Captain Ramsay afterwards became chief officer of the Wild Deer and another New Zealand trader named the William Davy. He then transferred to the steamer service, and traded from England to Rangoon. He was chief officer on one of the Castle Line steamers that carried troops to the Cape during the Zulu war. In December, 1884, he sailed from Glasgow as chief officer of the Union Steam Ship Company’s steamer Taupo,

and ou arrival at New Zealand was transferred to the .steamer Wakatipu. He next became second officer of the Tarawera, and then first officer of the Australia, eventually succeeding Captain Craw as master of the latter. While in charge of the Australia he had many exciting experiences on the coast. On leaving the Australia, Captain Ramsay was in charge of the Hauroto and the Te Anau, being called out of the latter during the great maritime strike of 1890. He subsequently "held the position of master Of the steamers Brunner, Dingadee, and Corinna. It was when he was in command of the Corinna that he was chosen from a number of applicants to succeed the late Captain Sewell as harbourmaster of Oamaru. He entered upon his duties in 1896, and retired on December 30, 1922, with the fullest confidence and respect of his employers and of shipping masters who used the port. He was a strong advocate of the movement to take the breakwater out from the cape, and thereby divert the currents and create a better harbour •: and foreshore.. Unhappily he did not live to see his proposal carried into effect. Captain Ramsay was married on March 5, 1891, to Frances Wadham, of Auckland, who survives him. He also leaves four daughters —Mrs A. C. Campbell (Martinborough), Mrs Laurence Earle (Auckland), and Misses E. K. and Edna Ramsay (Oamaru) —to share with a widowed mother grief at the loss of a good and true husband and father. To them will be extended the sympathy of a wide circle of friends of the deceased gentleman—friends to be found in many parts of the world. The flag was flown at from the. Oamaru Harbour Board’s offices yesterday, out. of respect to the .memory of the deceased. THE LATE DR MONSON. Dr Bernard ’Monson was bor n in Christchurch 37 years ago. He was educated at Christchurch and matriculated at the Waitaki Boys' High School, Oamaru, afterwards taking his medical course at the Otago University, graduating M. 8., with honours.- He practised for 12 years in New Zealand,- giving up his practice to serve in Palestine with the 14th Mounted Rifles. Invalided from Palestine and returning to New Zealand, he took his M.D. degree with honours. Proceeding to Edinburgh he took his F.R.C.S. with honours. Travelling Europe, he spent two years attending the clinics in Paris, Berlin and Vienna, thus acquring a knowledge of the latest and most up-to-date methods of modern surgery. In. Sydney he .quickly made a name and a place for himself, being assiduously engaged in original research ■•« work and other branches of stirgery pertaining to his own speciality. As one of the surgeons on the staff of the Lewisham Hospital, he operated continuously, performing some fine examples of surgical work, demonstrating unique methods of modern surgery. He achieved considerable distinction as a medical writer, some of his articles being translated into various foreign languages and published abroad. Sydney. is all the poorer for the passing of a brilliant surgeon and cultured scholar. To say he was beloved and appreciated by all at the Lewisham Hospital is attested by the Mother provincial and her associate nurses, who declare that it was recognised by all that a brilliant brain and its attendant career of usefulness were lost, not only to the institution, but to the medical proTession and the Sydney public. Dr .Monson’s outstanding characteristicwas his. modest reticence, .and those who knew him but realised his rare humility and mourn for one so suddenly cut off, at such an untimely age. Dr Monson was’ the son. of Mr R. W. Monson (late manager Union Steam Ship Company, Port Chalmers), and the late Mrs Monson. His loss is. mourned by his widow and two children—his sister and surviving parent, to whom he was at ones a devoted husband and loving father, affectionate brother and most dutiful son.