OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 22

OBITUARY.

After an illness of many months the eath has occurred of Mr W. S. Nankiell, who won the amateur golf ehamionship of Australia, played at Saulingham. in 1927. It is characteristic f golf that Nankivell's last game on the inks, played in adverse weather eonili ions and when he was unfit to face the xertion of the round, was one of Ins jest, his score was 76. The same evenpg he was invalided, and although rally ng from time to time his case at last acame hopeless. He was only 26 yeais a 4 JC '- The death occurred early last week ot Hr Thomas Broad, aged 70 years, at his Jtesidence at Rangar>a. Mr Broad was born at Silverstream, Upper Hutt, and yras educated at Invercargill, where he joined the Railway Department 52 years §go. After some years of service in the gouth Island he was transferred to the North Island, and went to Taumarunm In 1910 as locomotive foreman. He held this position until 1918, when he retired and settled at Rangaroa. Mr Broad

took a keen interest in horticulture and an. things that assisted in beautifying the town. He was chairman of the Beauti tying Society and a member of th; Borough Council from 1925 until Decern J>er, 1928, when he resigned. He leave: g widow, three sons, and two daughters.

Mr Edward Bobbie, ex-station master bt Dunedin, passed away at his residence at Portobello on the 14th inst. The late Mr Dobbie was born in Glasgow, and joined the mechanical branch of the North British Railway in 1870, served three years, joined the traffic branch of the Caledonian Railway, Glasgow, served three years, and then entered the Glasgow Post Office, where he served six months, when failing health necessitated a long sea voyage. He came to New Zealand and joined the railway in Dunedin in the traffic branch in 1878, and

was shortly thereafter appointed stationmaster. As such he served in many Stations in Otago, also at Woodville for 10 years. Invercargill for five years, having then completed a record of over 36 years as station master in New Zealand. Retiring on superannuation at the end of 1918, he settled down at Broad Bay, where he enjoyed good health till lately. The death of Mrs Isabella Jones, relict of the late Hugh Jones, of Queenstown, which took place at Invercargill, leaves one more gap in the fastdiminishing band of early pioneers. The deceased lady, who was born at Girvan,

Ayrshire. Scotland, came out to New Zealand in 1865 by the ship Sevilla. She proceeded to the Lakes district, where she spent the greater part of her life. She was married at Cardrona to Mr Jones, who was then engaged in gold mining. Later they removed to Queenstown. Mr Jones passed away about 20 years ago. The late Mrs Jones, who had been in a poor condition of health for some time, breathed her last at the residence of her daughter, Mrs George Canning, Eye street. She is survived l>v three sons and five daughters, the youngest son being Mr Peter H. Jones, of Dunedin. The death occurred at her residence at North Chatton of Mrs Robert Burns, sen.. after a short illness. Mrs Burns, who was a daughter of the late James Kent Robertson, was born at Green Island in 1865. With her parents she removed to Shag Valley, at which school she received her education. She was married at Palmerston South in 1886, and with her husband settled at Green Valley, where they resided for 16 years. Twenty-eight years ago, with her husband and family, she removed to the Waikaka district, and settled at North Chatton, where she resided until the time of her death. The deceased had a bright and cheery disposition, and at her home one was always assured of a hearty welcome. She was keenly interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the district, and her homely, sympathetic nature endeared her to all who were privileged to know her.

A very early resident of Otago in the person of Mr Robert Watson died at Waipukurau, Hawke’s Bay, on December 24. Deceased came to New Zealand in and landed at Port Chalmers from the ship H. P. Bowers. He proceeded to Wanaka Station under engagement as a shepherd to Mr Robert Wilkin, in whose employ he remained some years. About this time rabbits increased to ®uch-an extent that many squatters were driven off their stations. Mr Watson worked on Morven Hills and Omarama, and in the 'seventies he worked on Birch Hill and Mount Cook Stations, in the Mackenzie Country. He drove many mobs of sheep from the high country of North-west Otago and the Mackenzie Country to Timaru and the plains of Canterbury. Later he worked as a shepherd on Mount Peel and Mesopotamia Stations, and in the early ’nineties he Itpcnt several years on Mr John Grigg's celebrated Longbeach Station. In 1893 Mr Watson bought a small farm at Umutaroa, in Hawke’s Bay, where he lived till 1909. In 1910 he bought a farm near Waipukurau, which he managed without assistance till he disposed Of it in 1925, since which year he resided with a nephew, Mr W. Wilson, near Waipukurau. He made a trip to the Old Country in 1873. and returned to New Zealand by the ship Nelson on December 31, 1874. In 1899 he. visited relatives in Scotland, and again in 1909. Deceased, who was never married, was born at Kirkmichael, Dumfries-shire in 1840, and would have attained 90 years in a few months. He possessed a remarkable memory, and remained wonderfully active, having walked more than a mile around the sheep three weeks before his death, when he slipped on a doorstep and sustained injuries from which he died. THE REV. WILLIAM WRIGHT. The death occurred at Oamaru of the Rev. William Wright, a veteran minister of the Presbyterian Church in

New Zealand. He was the first settled minister at Knapdale.

The deceased came to New Zealand i from Morayshire, Scotland, as a lad with his elder brother, and they settled at Milton, where he went to school. On completing his education he worked for a period on a farm his brother had purchased at Kaihiku. Ambition called, however, and William Wright forsook agrarian pursuits to take up school teaching. For a period he served at Waiwera South, and later he was appointed to a position at Outram. After serving there for a few years Mr Wright felt the urge for further study. He left the Outram School to enter the Otago University, and there his studies were directed towards the ministry. Mr j Wright completed his studies and was | called to the pastoral care of the Knapdale Presbyterian Church' in 1883, the charge at that time having been newly constituted. At that period Mr Wright's charge included Knapdale, Otama, Chatton, Waikaka Valley, and Waikaka, the services being conducted on alternate Sundays by the minister and lay preachers. In 1889 Mr Wright accepted a call to Maheno, and after a few years there he was called to Columba Presbyterian Church at Oamaru. Here he served until advancing years compelled him to retire a few years ago. The deceased was beloved by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was a well-read man, and his pulpit ministrations were always of a very high order. As a visitor to the sick Mr Wright was an ideal man, his kindly sympathy and cheerful disposition lightening the sick room. Sympathy with his fellows was the outstanding trait of his character, and at Knapdale his memory is cherished. He leaves a grown-up family to mourn their loss.

MR E. C. W. PORTER. INVERCARGILL. January 17. Many old friends and acquaintances, both business and sporting, will be grieve! to learn of the passing, on January 11. of Mr E. C. W. Porter, the popular ami well-known bank manager in various parts of New Zealand. He joined the Bank of New Zealand at Wanganui in 1873, and after a short time in the Wellington an 1 Greytown offices, he was appointed agent at Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay) in 1880, After some seven years in Wairoa he was transferred to Christchurch, and was then moved to Southbridge. He was in charge of the Arrowtown branch, and then the I Queenstown branch of the bank until I 1904. when he was appointed manage) at Wyndham (Southland), which position he occupied till the year of his retirement (1920). Mr Porter will be remembered by many as a fine sportsman. In his earlier days he was a good football player, and he also played cricket and lawn tennis, and later hockey. Angling and shooting were favourite pastimes. He was always verj’ publie-spirited, and in many instances was instrumental in starting young men’s organisations. Another branch of his acti vity was his association with military matters. He had received his commission before he was 20. and was promoted t> the rank of captain while in Queenstown In this capacity he will be remembered in Wyndham as captain of the Murihiku Mounted Rifles, and later O.C. “ C Squadron 7th (Southland) M.R. Mr Porter was due to retire on superannuation during the war. but he stayed at his post for some five years longer. JSince I his retirement he has resided at Northland, Wellington. PROEESSOR ROBERTSON. ADELAIDE, January 19. The death is announced of Professor Thorburn Robertson, at the age of 45. He was professor of biochemistry and general physiology at the Adelaide University, and was a distinguished scholar and research worker.