OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 2

OBITUARY

MR. PETER M. HANSEN EARLY MOTU SAWMILLER A Press -Association telegram from Whakatane records the death of Mr. 1 Peter M. Hansen, formerly well known in the Poverty Bay district, the report indicating that Mr. Hansen bad suffered a seizure while engaged in his usual occupation, and died before he could be conveyed to hospital. The'late Mr. Hansen, who was 59 years of age, had been in poor health recently, but in his earlier years was an extremely healthy and active, man. He was born at Makauri, and was ihe son of Mr. Christian Hansen, founder ot the settlement of Motu and host of the accommodation house there, and later of the Motu Hotel. During his boyhood, Mr. Peter M. Hansen helped his parents in tho esta)> lishment. of their home on the banks of the Motu River, and gained an intimate knowledge of the pioneering life in Poverty Bay's backblocks. He took up milling when his father established a milling plant in the dense bush, and in later vcars he was manager for Mr. Thomas Quirk at Motuhora, during the whole period of the late Mr. Quirk's interest in the milling business, at Motu and in that neighbourhood. Mr. Hansen retired eight years ago, and since then busied himself as a nurseryman in the Whakatane district. He is' survived by Mrs. Hansen, four daughters and one son, to whom the deep sympathy of a large number ol friends in this,'district will be extended. Hie members of his family comprise Mrs. W. Roniinger. Kopua, Mrs. F. Jenkins, Tikitiki, the Misses Daphne and Rona Hansen, of Whakatane, and Mr. Trevor Hansen, also of Whakatane.

A Wellington exchange records the death of Mrs. Emily Louisa. Hankins, who was born there in December, 1856, being the eldest daughter of the. late Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Gardiner.

A resident of Petone, Mr. J. J. Levey, died last week in his eighty-first, year. He was particularly well known among railway employees throughout New Zealand. Oho of tho leading figures in the Northern Wairoa, Mr. F. J. Hosking, lias died at Dargaville in his seventythird year. Born in Cornwall, deceased came with his parents to New Zealand, and as a young man undertook many of Ihe first 'survevs made in Northland. Over 40 years'ago he established his headquarters at. Dargaville, where he built up a large practice as a surveyor. A leading figure in Napier's business community for a. great number of years has passed away in the. person of Mr. Frank Life, in his, seventy-seventh year. Mr. and Mrs. Bice, whose golden wedding fell on August 10 last, had resided |in Napier for the past 40 years. Mr. Bice went to Napier from Bristol when he was 18 years of age. More than 40 years ago he opened a wholesale and retail establishment in the town. The death has occurred of Mr. Arthur Smyth, of Mauku, Pnkckohe, in his eighty-fifth year. Mr. Smyth on his arrival in New Zealand was employed in Auckland and later joined the Thompson paitv engaged in survey work in Southern * Nelson end North Canterbury. While on this survey about 50 years ago the party was caught in a blizzard, two members losing their lives. Mr. Smyth returned to England and joined the staff of the Midland railways. He came to New Zealand again and after three years in Nelson commenced farming in ihe Mauku district.

Rear-Admiral William Sowdcn Sims, whoso death was reported from Boston, U.S.A.. this week, entered the United States Navy in 1876 at, the ago of 17, and between 1897 aud 1900 was naval attache at, tho American Embassies at Paris and St. Petersburg. In 1908-9 he was naval aide to the President of the United States, and served on a committee which introduced naval gunnery and construction reforms into the United States Fleet, In 1913-15 he was in command of the destroyer flotillas in the Atlantic, and in 1917 was president of tho United States Naval War College. From 1917 to 1919 he commanded the United Stales naval forces in European waters with the rank of Vice-Admiral and later Admiral. When ho relinquished command of the naval forces in European waters he reverted to the permanent rank of rear-admiral. In 1919 he resumed the presidency of the Naval War College, and in 1922 was retired on account of his age. He held many decorations, and a. naval writer and critic.