BUSINESS MAN’S DEATH

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1929, Page 14

BUSINESS MAN’S DEATH

A FATAL SEIZURE. DURING COMMERCE TOUR. Auckland, Nov. 20. There was a tragic happening on the commerce train tour this morning when Mr. W. M. Passmore, of Auckland, manager of Donaghy’s Rope Works, had a sudden seizure in a motor-car and died before reaching Kaikohe five minutes later. The train is conveying a large party of business men on a tour of the province. The party had been motored by the townspeople to Ngawha mineral springs, four miles out. While returning to the cars going up hill and past the works of Imperial Chemical Industries, Mr. Passmore was conversing brightly and appeared to be as well as any member of the party. Re-entering the motor-car, he sat beside the driver. The car had only gone a mile when Mr. Passmore was taken with a seizure and was breathing heavily. The car was speeded to town and first aid was applied by Sergeant Wolfendale. No doctors were available, thus illustrating the disabilities of country settlers. The nearest medical man, Dr. Martin, of Okaihau, ten miles away, was called by telephone, and he arrived later. In consequence of . Mr. Passmore’s death, to-night’s social at Okaihau has been cancelled, and the party will delay its departure for Kaitaia until the body leaves by to-morrow morning’s train for Auckland. Mr. Passmore was about 66 years of age, and came from a well-known Dunedin family. He arrived from Scotland in 1873, and started a rope and twine works at Burnside, Dunedin. This was later destroyed by fire, and the firm was joined with Donaghy's Rope and Twine, Ltd., of which Mr. Passmore has been manager at Auckland for over a quarter of a century. Mr. Passmore was a member of the Remuera Bowling Club. He is survived by Mrs. Passmore and three children.