MR. WILLIAM HAWKINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1048, 12 August 1930, Page 14

MR. WILLIAM HAWKINS

After a varied career, during which he had been successively journalist, politician, farmer, soldier and prohibilecturer, Mr. William Hawkins died at New Plymouth on Saturday. He was 68 years of age. Mr. Hawkins was born at Rylestone, New South Wales. In 1882 he accepted a journalistic post in the "Wairarapa, and eventually he became managing-editor of the “Pahiatua Herald.” In 1904 he successfully contested a by-election for the Pahiatua seat, which he held at the following General Election. He moved to Taranaki and took up farming at Tataraimaka, 14 miles from New Plymouth. During the Great War he left with the 14th Reinforcement, holding the rank of captain. On his return he was appointed to the staff of the New Zealand Alliance, in whose interests he made a lecture tour of the Dominion, New South Wales and Queensland. In his younger days he was a keen sportsman, representing Hawke’s Bay at cricket. Rugby and rowing. He is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Allerdice, of Pahiatua. one daughter and four sons.