OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 25691, 28 June 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

11 Dr Karl Landsteiner □ e (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 26. The death is announced of Dr Karl Landsteiner, an American whose discovery and classification of human blood into four main groups I paved the way for blood transfusions I which have saved scores of thousands of lives. CAPTAIN J. W. P. THOMSON Tire death occurred at Christchurch ! yesterday of Captain James William Peterson Thomson, aged 62, a well- ’ known resident of Stewart Island and ‘ member of a pioneering family of the island. 1 Captain Thomson was best known for his ownership and operation of several > small vessels used in trading and tour- : ist operations at the island. Among • them were the Rakiura, the Pegasus and the Ranui. The last named was a 65-ton twin screw motor vessel built at ■ Port Pegasus and launched in 1936. With this vessel he conducted a service for the Public Works Department to Milford Sound and for tourist traffic to the West Coast Sounds until the vessel was taken over by the Government early in the war. Captain Thomson was also associated with a number of island enterprises, including the fish freezing station at Port Pegasus. He was a member of the company operating the station in 1915 when it was overwhelmed by a landslide. He rebuilt the station on his own responsibility and had it operating again in 1916. Captain Thomson was a son of Mr J. R. Thomson, one of the early run-hold-ers and explorers of the island. He married Miss Margaret Black, a daughter of the late Professor Black, of Dunedin. Mrs Thomson died about four years ago and there was no family. Captain Thomson is survived by one brother, Mr C. V. Thomson, of Dunedin, and five sisters, Mrs W. D. Napier, of Waimate, Mrs Harold Large, of Napier, Mrs A. McKellar and Mrs Peter Lewis, and Miss Barbara Thomson, of Stewart Island. mr r. c. McDonald The death occurred recently of Mr Robert C. McDonald at his home in Dunedin. His parents arrived in New Zealand in 1875 in the ship Peter Denny, and his father, Mr Hector McDonald, built and operated the first wood-turning factory in Invercargill, the premises being situated where Lange’s bakery now stands. Mr McDonald was educated, at the South School, after which he served his time as a wood turner with W. Smith and Company and remained with them until 1912, when he left to take employment with the City Sawmilling Company, Dunedin. Some years ago he started business on his own account as a woodturner. As a young man he was a foundation member of the Britannia Football Club and he also was a foundation member and played for the Appleby Cricket Club. Ha is survived by his wife and one daughter. MR G. WASSELL Mr. George Wassell, who died suddenly at Ferndale, was bom at Dunedin 66 years ago. He was a son of the late Mr. David Wassell, who taught at the Fortrose school and later at the Charlton school for a number of years. Mr. Wassell received his education at these schools, and when his father took over a farm property at Ferndale he went to work for him, remaining on the property for the last 47 years. Mr. Wassell was a member of the Ferndale school committee and was interested in other district activities. He is survived by one daughter.