OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11828, 13 October 1916, Page 5

OBITUARY.

REV. W. L. BLAMIRES. Ono of the best-known men in Australasian Methodist circles, in tho per-t-ion of tho H.cv W. Ij. Mnmiros, died yesterday afternoon, at o7H f liereforci Street, Linwood, the residence oi i'lif* daughter. }1 <> was eighty-two years oi age, and was the son of a soldier who fought at. Waterloo. Mr Blarnircs was at first in training for tho law, but he ultimately entered the Church, his first charge being on tho Castlemaino (Victoria) gold diggings. For thirty-ciglit years ho was in active service as pastor, and later, for twenty years, ho acted as a supernumerary minister. .[Jo spent tho last twelve years in New Zealand, mostly in or near Christ-

church. Mr Blamires filled many important positions in Methodism, being a minister of the Victorian Methodist Conference, president in 1886, secretary during the three preceding years, and chairman or the district on nine occasions. He was a member of many Australasian General Conferences, his first visit to Christchurch, thirty years ago, being in that capacity. Mr Blamires was also a member of the Methodist Ecumenical Conference (London) and tho Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910). He was tho author of several books, including ono on natural theology. All his sons who reached mature life entered tho Methodist ministry, and threo of them are now associated with the New Zealand Conference. The eldest son went as a chaplain with tho Main Body of the Expeditionary Force, and is now serving in France.