OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 27

OBITUARY.

A Wellington telegram announces the death of Mr Thomas Humphries, formerly surveyor-general. The death of Mr George Ellis, aged 90 years, is announced from Auckland. The deceased was at one time Mayor of Hastings. The death is announced of Mrs Martha Tutcher, one of • the pioneer settlers of Poverty Bay, aged 95. She received a broken hip a fortnight ago, and did not recover from the shock. She arrived in New Zealand 70 years ago in the ship Evening Star, and went to Gisborne in .1868, just after the massacre. The death of Mr Samuel James Reston, aged 83. occurred at his residence, Remuera, Auckland. He came to New Zealand in the ship John Taylor in 1853 with his father, who was the first governor of the Lyttelton Gaol. The early part of Mr Reston’s life was spent on various goldfields. The death occurred at Picton of a very widely known and highly respected resident in the person of Captain Thomas W. Bowden, master for many years of the well-known Sounds trader the Gannet. Captain Bowden was probably one of the oldest of Marlborough’s residents, for he was born at Yelloton, Tory Channel, in 1859, his parents having just previously arrived from England. Mr William Camp, whose death took place last week, was an old sailor with a _ varied record of seafaring. In 1874 he was on square-rigged ships and knew all about the setting and taking in of studding sails. He made several voyages between England and Australia and also to New Zealand. lie was afterwards in sail and steam on the New Zealand coast; was whaling in the old Splendid and in the more modern Huanui. He also went sealing and took part in an expedition to Macquarrie Islands for penguin oil. Mr Camp was born in Devon, England, 72 years ago, and had his home for many years at Port Chalmers. A widower for several years, Mr Camp is survived by three sons.

The death occurred, at the age of 78 years, of Mr John MKechnie, who came to Dunedin fr< m Scotland as a young man and lived here up the time of his death. Mr M’Kechnie, who for many years held the position of pipe-major in the Dunedin Mounted Rifles, was employed at the Hillside Railway Workshops up till 14 years ago, when he retired. Mrs MTxechnie predeceased her husband 14 years ago. One of his sons, Robert, was killed at the Somme in 1916. The surviving members of the family are Mrs D. C. Jolly (Dunedin), Mrs L. C. M'Lachlan (Christchurch), Mrs J. Perriam (Heriot), Mrs F. Bluett (Sydney), Mr John M'Kechie (Wellington), and Mr Donald M’Kechnie (Dunedin). The death of Mr Arthur G. C. Glass, founder of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, occurred at the Auckland Hospital on Tuesday. Born in Somerset 69 years ago, Mr Glass came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Helen Denny at the age of 13. Knowledge in sheep farming was gained in Puriri and in Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay. Eventually Mr Glass moved to Broadwood, near Kaitaia, where he was a pioneer in breaking in the new country. He undertook the organisation of the Farmers’ Union, and it was at Kaitaia, in 1899, that the first meeting of the union was held, under the chairmanship of Mr T. W. P. Smith. Subsequently Mr Glass travelled through both islands calling meetings of farmers, which resulted in the formation of branches of the union throughout the Dominion. Mr William Couston, whose death occurred on Sunday, was the eldest son of the late Mr William Couston, and was 50 years of age. He was born and educated in Dunedin and after leaving school entered the service of Messrs Paterson and Barr. He later entered his late father’s business in Rattray street, . remaining there until his death. In his younger days Mr Custon was an enthusiastic member of the Dunedin Cycling Club. Until lately he had always enjoyed good health, but during the past few months his condition of health had not been altogether satisfactory. The deceased, who was a single man, is survived by his mother and one brother, Mr Charles K. Couston, who conducts the ironmongery business in Rattray street, and five sisters; four of whom are married. Scores of officers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force will learn with deep regret of the death in London on June 6 last of Mr C. A. Knight, who gave up his magnificent home, No. 13 Lewis crescent, Brighton, and ran it at his own expense for several years as a convalescent home for officers of the Expeditionary Force. Mr Knight aftei - wards bought No. 5 Lewis crescent and put it to the same purpose, and many officers have reason to remember his kindness. Both Mr and Mrs Knight gave liberally of their time and money to help to restore our officers to health, and Mrs Knight and her family will have the sin cere sympathy of officers in their bereave ment. The foregoing statement was made by the Prime Minister last night when Ins attention was drawn to the death of Mr Knight. The business community of Dunedin has lost an old and respected member by the death of Mr James Armstrong, which oc curved at his residence, Roslyn, on Thursday Mr Armstrong was born in Gala shiels, Scotland, in 1867, and at an early age he came with his parents to Dunedin He was educated at the Kaikorai School and on leaving he joined the office staff of Messrs Scoular and Chisholm, in whose employment he remained for 20 years In 1903, he assumed the secretaryship of Messrs G. and T. Young’s Dunedin branch, and later acquired an interest in the firm, eventually becoming director. Mr Armstrong was one of the original members of the Dunedin Leidertafel, and when that body became renamed the Mate Choir (afterwards the Royal Mai. Choir) he retained an active interest in it and sang with it until prevented by illness from doing so. He was also a prominent churchman, and for 36 years he was an office-bearer of First Church. He is survived by his widow, two sons (Messrs Elliott and James Armstrong, both ol Dunedin), and two daughters. The death occurred at Invercargill -on Thursday (says the Southland Times) of Mr Alfred Bunting, one.of the most re-

spected members of the business community of Southland. Born at Manchester in 1854, he came to New Zealand about 40 years ago, and was for a long period on the clerical staff of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, serving that firm in its Wellington, Blenheim, and Invercargill branches. He severed his connection with the company to visit friends in the Homeland, and upon his return (in 1912) he was appointed by the New Zealand Government to proceed to Nukualofa (Tonga) to effect a settlement between the Tongan and Z ealand Governments in connection with German properties there. This work he carried out very satisfactorily, after which he returned to New Zealand and £ as appointed secretary to the Southland Woolbrokers’ Association, a position he held for the past six years. He was a prominent figure at the local wool sales Mr Bunting was a keen golfer and at " as secretary of the Invercargill Chib. He had no relatives in New Zealand, and was unmarried. Mr Andrew Wilson, who died suddenly at his office (says our Timaru correspondent), was chief accountant of the Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association, where he had been employed since 1893, joining the staff as an invoice clerk and rising to the position !?^ Id at . the time of his death. The late Mr Wilson was born at Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland, in 1870. The early part of his life was spent on the borders or the River Tweed in the vicinity of the historical Abbotsford, which is closely associated with the life of Sir Walter Scott. He came to New Zealand in 1879, in the sailing vessel Invercargill, and some years later entered a mercantile ottice at Oamaru, coming to Timaru early in 1893. He was a prominent member or the South Canterbury War Relief Society, of which he was secretary and treasurer for a number of years. For a period of over 30 years he was a member or the r oresters’ Lodge, Court Southern Cross, and was also a member of the Timaru Bowling Club. The late Mr Wilson was largely responsible for the establishment of the Sailors’ Rest at Timaru. His death came as a shock to th e townspeople. He is survived by a widow, one son. and one daughter.

A life full of interesting experiences was close 1 by the death of Mr George Ellis, of Mount Eden. He was in his ninety-first year. Mr Ellis was born in Flintshire. Wales, on November 21, 1837. In 1860 he went to Australia, and when the rush to ths Otago goldfields started he was attracted to Dunedin. Later- he was engineer on a steamer which brought him to the Manukau, and he was there when H.M.S. Orpheus was wrecked on the bar. His vessel (the Avon) was one of the earliest to arrive on the scene, and took a prominent part in the rescue of those of the crew of the Orpheus who survived. When the war was in progress the Avon was plying on the Waikato. Mr Ellis made the first compound steam engine in New Zealand, by the conversion of a single cylinder engine. His next venture was connected with a schooner named the Southern Cross, which he employed in the Bay of Plenty trade Soon after this Mr Elhs Kave np tlle seafaring life, and established a brewery in Tauranga. Selling out at an early stage, he joined Mr Robiohns in a brewery in Napier. There he entered into municipal life, and was a member of Napier’s first borough council. Parting with his Napier interests, he built a brewery in Hastings. Here lie was the prime mover in the formation of the borough of Hastings, and was for six years its Mayor. At this stage of his career he became an owner of racehorses. and for some years owned a number of prominent horses. Finally, Mr Ellis disposed of his Hawke’s Bay interests. and settled in Auckland, where he snent his later years He was one of the first to engage in the game of bowls in New Zealand, and he was one of the oldest playing members on Auckland greens.

At Rangiora on Friday Mr Hugh Brown, aged 72, of Dunedin, died unexpectedly at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr A. J. Ferguson, whom he was visiting. Mr Brown retired to bed on Thursday night in good spirits and seemingly in his usual state of health, but at 6.30 a.m. Mrs Ferguson heard him groan, and just after she reached his bedside he expired. He had previously suffered from heart trouble, for which lie had received medical attention, consequently an inquest will not be necessary. The late Mr Brown was well known in business circles in Dunedin, Kaitangata, and Lawrence. . He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, coming of a well-known old Scottish family. He came to the colony at the age of six with his parents, who landed at Port Chalmers in 863 in the ship Arima. After spending his earlylife in Invercargill, he entered the employment of Messrs Brown, Ewing and Co., of Dunedin, but left to go into busmess as a draper on his own account at Kaitangata. Eventually he relinquished his business, and became manager of a branch draper’s shop of Messrs Kilroy and Sutherland, Dunedin, at Lawrence. On the death of Mr Kilroy’ he was placed in the position of manager of the Dunedin business, which he retained until his retirement several years ago. Mr Brown was an elder of the Presbyterian Church. a P d was held in the highest esteem. He visited Rangiora periodically to stay with his daughter. Mrs Ferguson, and had many friends in the place, especially amongst the bowlers, his companionship on the green being much enjoyed on account of his happy disposition. His wife died 11 years ago, and lie leaves a son and four daughters. His funeral took place in Lunedin on Sunday, but before his remains were removed from Rangiora a short funeral service was held in the house by the Rev. W. R. Hutchison, and w-as attended by the John Knox Church elders and a few other friends. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. J. Kilpatrick. A sponsor of golf in New Zealand GO years ago, and a well-known figure in the commercial circles in Dunedin for many years, Mr Charles Ritchie Howden, died in Auckland yesterday at the age of 90 years. Mr Howden was born in Edinburgh, and was educated at the Royal Academy, his father being a merchant in the Scottish city. He came to New Zealand at che age of 23, and spent some time on sheep runs in Otago. Later he entered the wine and spirit business in Dunedin, and during Sir Julius VogeFs Government he started the New Zealand

Distillery Company, a firm which flourished for several years, until it was closed by legislation, which provided for the payment of compensation. Mr Howden was interested in sheep-farmiug in South Canterbury for i time. In 1867 he married the only daughter of the late Captain Fraser, M.L.C., of Dunedin. Shortly afterwards he introduced golf into Dunedin, and founded the Otago Golf Club.. The game had a small folawing during the ’seventies and ’eighties. Another broth<t-, the, late Mr D. B. Howden, who died last year, founded a club i- Wellington. In 1881 Mr Howden returned to Great Britain with his family, and remained there for some years, his wife dying there about 42 years ago. In 1889 he returned to New Zealand to establish, with a partner, an agency in Dunedin for the Royal Exchange Assurance Company. He retired from business about 30 years ago, following golf keenly for some time afterwards. His last appearance on the links was at • Middlemore during a visit to Auckland in 1910. He was a life member of the Otago Golf Club. Three years ago lie came to reside in Auckland. There is a family of five sons: Messrs A. M. Howden, of Milford ; T. F. Howden, of Australia; Dr P. M. Howden, of Palmerston; and Dr C. E. Howden, of Waiuku; and two daughters—Mesdames H. D. Stronach, of Dunedin, and J. C. Simmonds, of Auckland. There are 23 grandchildren.