OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 24493, 22 July 1941, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR ROBERT A. WAITIRI The death occurred at Bluff last week of Mr Robert Agrippa Waitiri, second son of the late Mr and Mrs Ihaia Taoka Waitiri. Born at the Neck, Stewart Island, in September 1888, Mr Waitiri as a youth followed the occupation of a fisherman from Ruapuke Island and Bluff. In 1914 he went to the Auckland Islands in charge of a sealing party for Henderson and Co. Ltd., and was there when war broke out. During the war he served in the refrigerating department of the troopship Rimutaka. He was in ill-health for some time. In 1922 he was appointed launch master and transport officer at Milford Sound. Eight years later he was transferred to a similar position at Lake Waikaremoana, in Hawke’s Bay, and in addition was ranger there for the Internal Affairs Department. After a further eight years he was promoted in charge of the Government recreation grounds at Rotorua and was officer in charge of all the Maori guides there. One of his duties was to organize tours and schedules of entertainment for distinguished visitors and in this capacity he met many interesting persons. In all he was in charge of the Rotorua tours of three GovernorsGeneral, Sir Charles Fergusson, Lord Bledisloe and Lord Galway. 111-health compelled Mr Waitiri to give up his work some four years ago. Since then he lived in Bluff. He was a member of the Hokonui Trust Board, the Bluff Soldiers’ Farewelling Committee and the Haere Tonu Party. In 1912 he married Miss Miriam Effie Topi, only daughter of Mrs Topi and the late Mr Maurice Topi and granddaughter of King Topi, of Ruapuke. He is survived by his wife and one son, Sergeant R. A. Waitiri, at present in a convalescent home in Egypt after having been wounded in Greece. The remains were conveyed to Ruapuke Island by the schooner Britannia and interred in the Topi family burial ground at Henrietta Bay, the Rev. C. N. Luker officiating at the funeral services. MR W. G. FELLINGHAM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 21. The death has occurred of Mr William George Fellingham, secretary of the National Rifle Association since 1922.