OBITUARY.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17608, 12 January 1929, Page 3

OBITUARY.

WELL-KNOWN COLONIST. MR WILLIAM H. BURCH. A VARIED CAREER. AUCKLAND, Saturday. Mr William Henry Burch, aged 83 years, whose death was' announced yesterday, had a wide mining experience on the Coromandel Peninsula, and none had taken a larger part in the development of its mineral wealth. Mr Burch was connected with the pioneering work of three fields—the Thames, Waitekauri and Waihi —was manager of mines in each of these centres, and at other times was partner in some of the most profitable tributes ever worked at the Thames. He was extremely popular with all the communities in which he lived. Mr Burch was born at Devonshire, and arrived in Auckland from New South Wales early in 1864. When the field at Thames was proclaimed in July, 1867. he was among the earliest arrivals. The sites of Shortland and Grahamstown were then wildernesses. He claimed the distinction of being the second man to discover reef gold in the district. He stayed in the Thames district until the Ohinemuri goldfield was opened in 1875. Mr Burch pegg e< l out a claim at the top of Waitekauri Hill, and soon arranged for an amalgamation with two adjoining claiins, the result of the fusion being the formation of the original Waitekauri Gold Mining Company, which secured the erection of the first battery of the district. After leaving Waitekauri Mr Burch engaged for a time in tributing and mine contract works at the Thames. Then, when Waihi was being opened, he became the first mine manager for the Waihi Gold Mining Company. Tributes in various mines at Thames followed, notably one in the Rueben Parr mine, from which he and three companions extracted thousands of ounces of gold. Then he undertook the management of the May Queen mine. His next and probably most successful responsibility was the management of the Golden Cross mine at Waitekauri for an English company. Having worked out the Golden Cross Mr Burch retired with his sons to farming life in the Tokatoka district, Kaipara. There he remained for several years before settling down at Remuera. Mr Burch served for several years as a member of the Thames Borough Council. He was also one of the promoters of the Thames School of Mines and for several years a member of its managing committee. While in the Kaipara he held for six years a seat on the Otamatea County Council. He held office in the Masonic craft at the Thames, and was an enthusiastic and generous supporter of athletic sport, particularly football. Deceased was the father of Mr H. W. Burch, of Hamilton.

SISTER MARY ST. MONINN A. The death occurred at the Lewisham Private Hospital, Christchurch, yesterday, of Sister Mary St. Moninna (nee Elizabeth Bourke), of the Notre Dame des Missions Convent, Christchurch. The deceased religious, who was the eldest daughter of Mr John Bourke, and the late Mrs Ellen Bourke, of Claudelands, Hamilton, was in her 42nd year. She was born in Hamilton, and educated at the Convent schools in this town. Following her profession at Christchurch, Sister Mary St. Moninna spent her twenty years of religious life in the Order to which she was attached, at Christchurch, Napier, and Rangiora, but principally in Christchurch. Of recent years Sister St. Moninna’s health had not been of the best, but latterly matters in this respect had improved. A few days ago, however, she took a sudden turn for the worse and peritonitis developing, she passed peacefully away yesterday morning. DR- NORMAN HALES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. A private cable reports the death of Dr. Norman Hales as a result of an accident. He was a well-known amateur singer and actor, and abput 12 or 13 years ago left for the United States, where he joined the stage professionally.

4 MR GEORGE STEWART. PUKEKOHE, Friday. The death occurred yesterday of Mr George Stewart, aged 82 years, a pioneer of the Ramarama district, where he resided for over 50 years. MR HAROLD JUDD. AUCKLAND, Saturday. The death has occurred of Mr Harold Judd, an inmate of the Evelyn Firth Home since it was opened, and a well-known member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. MR HOWARD WILLIAMS. (Australian Press Association!. LONDON, Jan. 10. The death has occurred of Mr Howard Williams, son of the late Sir George Williams, founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association, who died in 1905. Deceased was specially concerned in the development of the association throughout the Empire.

EARL HOWE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Jan. 10. The death is announced of Earl Howe. This death creates a vacancy in the House of Commons as Viscount Curzon, M.P., for Battersea, succeeds to the Peerage.