PERSONAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160724, 10 August 1920, Page 5

PERSONAL

Mr- D. Alabaster, who died recently at the age of 83 years, was the father of Mr D. Alabaster, now of the Wellington Supreme Court staff. He came to New Zealand from Norfolk, England, in 1554-, and entered on a seafaring life, which, amo tig, other things, resulted in the discovery of the Stewart Island oyster beds. Lake Alabaster is named after him, and it is claimed that he discovered gold on the West Coast two years before the historic rush occurred. About 19 years ago he proceeded to Wellington, and started in business as a sailmaker and a general merchant, a business which he carried on until his death. He leaves a widow, two sons (Mr D. Alabaster, of the Supremo Court staff, and Mr H. Alabaster, Wanganuil, and one daughter (Mrs M. A. Coveney, of Taumarunui). The late Mr George Walker, who died at Nelson last week, had a long and interesting career. He had some, stirring incidents to relate ef, the early da vs. He arrived in Nelson in 1843 in'the Thomas Harrison, and lived on a section in Cambria Street, the section on which he died, nearly 80 years later. He went to Puramahoi with his parents in 1854 and engaged in farming. Before commencing the business of the Wanganui Schools Committee last evening, the chairman referred to the deaths of the late Messrs T. D. Cummins and J. R. Johns. He stated that tho former had always taken a keen interest in matters pertaining to education, and the latter had been a member of the Committee for about 14 vears. A vote of condolence was carried in the usual way.