DEATH OF MR. W. H.HAWKINS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1930, Page 11

DEATH OF MR. W. H.HAWKINS

SOLDIER AND JOURNALIST. 1 ’ ; j - Captain William Henry Hawkins died - of a sudden heart attack at his residence, Buller Street, New Plymouth late on Saturday night. Mr. Hawkins, who carried his 68 years well, attended a football match only that afternoon. Early in his life Mr. Hawkins was a journalist in the Wairarapa district, and this career he never totally discontinued until the time of his death. Born at Rylestone, New South Wales, . Mr. Hawkins was the third son of Mr, and Mrs. W. H. Hawkilisjand about the = age of 20 he accepted a journalistic position in the Wairarapa, eventually becoming editor of the Pahiatua Herald. It was while holding this position that Mr. Hawkins entered politics and sue- . eeeded in a by-election for the Pahiatua seat., '' Shortly afterwards Mr. Hawkins moved to Taranaki and farmed in the Tataraimaka district until the Great , War. He had been actively connected with the volunteers in the Wairarapa district, and when he left with the 14th - Reinforcement he held the rank of:captain. Early in 1918 he was promoted to ■ the position of DJLPJS., and he filled . that office until the end of the war. Returning to New Zealand, Mr. Hawkins was appointed to a position on the staff of the New Zealand Alliance, where . his ability as a speaker and his brilliance at repartee earned him wide appreciation as an advocate of the cause. Prior to retiring three years ago, he toured New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland in the interests of the New Zealand Alliance. In 1894 Mr. Hawkins was married to Miss E. JI. Allardice at Pahiatua. He is survived by his widow and four sons— Percival, Rugby, William (Warea) and ' Patrick, and one daughter, Betty, while a brother, Mr. Edward Hawkins (Takapau) and a sister, Mrs. Taylor (Ryle- ’ stone), also survive him.