LATE MR E. BARNES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20476, 30 November 1934, Page 8

LATE MR E. BARNES.

Former Head Attendant at Sunnyside Hospital. The death occurred recently at Christchurch of Mr Ernest Barnes, aged 62 years, late head attendant of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital. Mr Barnes was born at Milton, Otago, in 1872. On March 26, 1894, he joined the Public Service as a junior attendant at Seacliff Mental Hospital, and after a rapid rise to charge attendant was appointed head attendant at the Government-Inebriates’ Home at Waitati in 1902. After serving in that capacity for a year he was transferred to Porirua. In 1919, after sixteen as head attendant at Porirua, Mr Barnes obtained a transfer to Sunnyside, where he carried out his duties as head attendant for a further fifteen years. Mr Barnes held the position of head attendant for 32 years and was 40 years in the department. He retired from the service on February' 28 of this year. In his younger days Mr Barnes was a noted athlete, particularly in field events, cycling and wrestling, and was also well known in amateur theatrical circles in Otago and at Porirua. He took a keen interest in Soccer and cricket at the various institutions. Under his control, the Sunnyside Soccer eleven achieved the highest honours of the game, being for years the champion team of the province and on one occasion winning the Chatham Cup. Mr Barnes is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.