OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 222, 19 September 1928, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. JOSEPH COLLINS. AGED 90 YEARS. An old resident of Auckland, Sir. Joseph Collins, died on Monday, aged 90 years. He was, married at Ballymaearett. County Antrim, Ireland, in 1864, and the couple celebrated the diamond anniversary of their wedding four years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Collie? arrived in Auckland by the ship Gauprts on the second trip of that vessel to New Zealand in 1865, and landed in row boats on the waterfront. The iinini«ran;a were welcomed by the Governor, Sir Gcorge Grey. Mr. Collins was a member of the committee that erected tha lir*t church of St. Benedict, and was connected with the formation of the Auckland Hibernian Society. Mrs. Collins, died, two years ago. There was no family. MRS. WOLF HARRIS. Advicft was received by cable of the leath in London of Mrs. Wolf Harris, roungest daughter of the late Mr. David Sathan, and eister of Mr. Alfred Xathan, jf this city. She was born in the old liomc of Ihe Nathans on the site where :hc n«r"w buildings for the South British [nsurance Company are now being erected. In her childhood days, the sea :ame to where the Victoria Arcade. now stands. Mrs. Wolf Harris left New Zealand about 40 years ago. Her husband, now deceased, was a director of the firm of Bing, Harris and Co. Mrs. Harris has paid several visits to New Zealand. She is survived by the following children:— Mr. Leslie Harris, Mr. Percy Alfred Harris, ,, member of the British House of Commons for South Hackney, and one daughter, who is married to Dr. Bcnsoude, of Paris. MR. H. A. McCOMISH. One who was well known in musical and yachting circles, Mr. H. A. MeComish, died suddenly on Monday at Wellington. It was intended that he should have led the orchestra at the Government luncheon to the Taeman flyers, but his death took place an hour before the function started. Mr. MeComish was born in Auckland in 1869, being the second son of.the late Mr. James MeComish, who was a wellknowu cornet player in this city. Mr. James MeComish was in the 53rd Kegiment of the Imperial Troops during the war with the Maoris. When the Choral Hall was burned down by Cyrus Haley after the function arranged for the Duke of Edinburgh, Mr. MeComish seeing the flames, blew the alarm on his cornet until the Fire Brigade arrived. Mr. MeComish was a membert of the crew of the yacht W 7 aitangi when she went down from Auckland to-Wel-lington, and sailed her in practically all her champion races on Wellington Harbour. He played the violin in the Savage Club orchestra at that citv, and at one time was conductor of the Wellington Working Men's Club orchestra, Mr:'MeComish was a member of the old Wellington Garrison Band, and when the new one was formed, became honorary lieutenant and bandmaster. He is survived by Mrs. MeComish, fi\e son? and two daughters.

MR. J. H. COLEMAN.

'By Telegraph.—Press NAPIER, Tuesday. The death has occurred of Mr. James Henry Coleman, one of the oldest and most prominent settlers of Hawke's Bay-, at the advanced age of 94 years. Mr. Coleman was born at Crownthorpe, Norwich, in 1834. He came to New Zealand in 18f>9 and entered the service ©f the late Archdeacon Samuel Williams, at Te Ante, where lie helped to convert the fcrnclad hillsides into fne pastoral country. Later he took up land at Pakowhai and Longlands. lie disposed of this and joined the late Mr. Alexander McHardy in taking up the Blackhead run, which was transformed into one of the bestkno'un breeding studs in the Dominion ; for Shorthorn cattle and Lincoln sheep. He later retired from farming, but afrrars u»ok deep interest in it. His liberal donations to the Aricultural Society and other similar bodies were numerous, and he also gave the Coleman Ward to tlie Napier Hospital, and the Memorial Qhurch at Crownthorpe, near Hastings, in memory of his eldest son : Mr. Herbert Coleman. who was killed in tho Groat War. He was an enthusiast]* supporter oY voluiHeeriji;: and a liberal donor to the Napier Soldiers' Club. Mr. Coleman is survived by his onlv daug-hter. Mr*. Walter, London, and among his step-children are Mrs. T. 11. Lowry and Mr. L\ J. Walt.