OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23678, 29 November 1938, Page 8

OBITUARY

SENIOR SERGEANT FINCH (United Press Association) WHANGAREI, November 28. Senior-Sergeant Finch, who was in charge of the Whangarei police, died suddenly as the result of a seizure on Saturday night. MR J. E. MAKGILL AUCKLAND, November 28. The death occurred suddenly tonight of Mr John Edward Makgill, aged 64, a prominent Auckland citizen. Mr Makgill was in the city today on business and appeared to be in excellent health. Mr Makgill was born in Edinburgh in 1874 and was a son of Sir John and Lady Makgill. He was only seven years of age when he arrived in New Zealand. He began farming on his father’s property in the Waiuku district. Subsequently he and his brother took over a property. Mr Makgill later bought sheep and cattle properties in the Matamata district. He was a former vicepresident of the Auckland provincial branch of the Farmers’ Union. He was one of the original directors of the Farmers’ Trading Company Ltd. He was a director of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company Ltd. for a long period and for a time filled the position of chairman. Mr Makgill is survived by his wife and by four sons and four daughters. MR R. P. NEALE The death has occurred at Gore of Mr Robert P. Neale. Mr Neale was born at Port Chalmers 63 years ago and was a son of Mr and Mrs Robert Parfitt Neale. He was educated at the Port Chalmers primary school and Dis* trict High School. When he was about 18 years of age he secured farm work at Waikaka and Waikaka Valley. Later, he became a dredgeman and for a long period he worked on various dredges in the Waikaka and Waikaka Valley areas. For a short time Mr Neale turned his attention to farming and he and the late Mr Thomas Falconer owned a property at Otamete Gorge. In 1912 Mr Neale purchased Trembath’s stables and he conducted the first motor-taxi in Gore. In 1917 he married Miss Margaret C. Johnston, of Kaihiku. About 20 years ago he began business at Gore as a land estate and commission agent and for many years he was in partnership with the late Mr M. McLeod. Mr Neale was chiefly interested in his business and gardening was his hobby. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his widow.