THIRD EDITION. OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 11

THIRD EDITION. OBITUARY

ME. GEORGE SCARFE, OF NAPIER Mr George Scarfe, one of the oldest and most respected residents of Napier, died at his home, Milton Terrace, after a short illness a few days ago. Mr Scarfe was born in May, 1838, in London, and was educated at private schools there before entering the drapery trade. lie emigrated to New Zealand in 186.') on the John Duncan, arriving after an eventful voyage in January, 1864. Ho settled at Whangaroa, acquiring large timber interests there, exporting squared baulk to Sydney. Later lie returned to Auckland to resume the drapery trade with Messrs Arch. Clark and Sons, and later with Owen and Sons, making successful voyages to the South Seas as supercargo on their account. He went to Napier in 1875 to start a branch there, later establishing a grocery business, from which he transferred after some years to become a bookkeeper, and later a news agent and stationer, retiring in 1915. The deceased gentleman, who was favorably known to many friends, was a member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church during the whole of his half century of residence in Napier, and he was an older for 35 years. He was also an unattached member of the Masonic fraternity. Ho leaves to, mourn their great, loss of a fine father and a thorough gentleman, four children, Messrs Ld. A. Scarfe, Gisborne, G. E. Scarfe, Napier, and E. S. Scarfe, Wanganui, with Mrs W. Baird, Napier. The voyage of the John Duncan; by which vessel Mr. Scarfe came to New Zealand, was marked by distressing incidents. Whilst the hands were engaged in lashing the anchors in the English Channel two of them were washed overboard and were drowned, and later a passenger threw himself into the sea, unsuccessful efforts being made, to rescue him. The John Duncan cleared 'Graveseud on October 10, 1863, and on November 18 fell across a large steamer, which hailed and ordered the John Duncan to heave-to or she would fire into her Captain Logic, master of the John Duncan, paid no attention to the threat, but kept way on his ship, when a boat with an aimed crew pulled alongside. The officer in command stepped, on hoard, and intimated that lie came from the Federal steam frigate Vanderbiit. The officer was exceedingly civil, and when he saw the character of the ship did not even ask to inspect h/i papers. There were four other deaths on board—three children and the New Zealand chief William Raipa. MR. THOMAS COATES (P«r Press Association.! AUCKLAND, this day. Mr. Thomas C'oates, of Orakei, uncle of the Prime Minister, died to-day, aged 80. CANON H. 11. FOSTER, The death of Canon Herbert Henry Foster, well-known in the Auckland and Waiapu dioceses, occurred in England early last week. The late Mr. Foster had been in failing health for some months, and his death was not altogether unexpected. , . Canon Foster had a long ministry, including 25 years' service in South Africa, where lie was for n period sub-dean, of the cathedral at Pieterniarit/burg. He first came to Now Zealand in lb'o2, at the request of the Bishop of Waiapu, in order to form an organisation on the lines of the Bush Brotherhood in Queenslaud, but. the proje?t was not carried out. Mr. Foster was sometime principal oi St. Paul's Theological College, Burgh, Lincolnshire, England, and was a canon of Lincoln Cathedral, lie also 1 saw considerable service in Palestine and KgypL He held several temporary appomtmc/its in Auckland from time to time, the most recent being the charge of St,' Barnabas parish, Mount Eden, in 152Z-23._ He then went to Tokio, Japan, on missionary work, and was chaplain to the British Embassy. After serving for about a Veiil' and a-lialf, he was forced to relinquish his duties through ill-health, and last year he went to England.