OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 230, 28 September 1928, Page 5

OBITUARY.

REV. D. J. MURRAY. VETERAN METHODIST MINISTER. A well-known minister of the Methodist Church, the Row Daniel .lames Murray, died yesterday at his home. Quest Terrace, Mount Roskill. aged 70 years. He had a record of over forty years' service as a Methodist minister. Born at Cambridge, England, he entered

the ministry of the Primitive Methodist Church in 1874. After being in stations at (Iravesend, Tunbridge Wells, Brighton, and Plymouth, Mr. Murray in IS7B came to New Zealand, where he was received into the Methodist Church. At different times he was stationed at Milton, Lower Hutt. Lyttelton, Thames, Masterton, and Feilding. He was placed on the supernumerary list in 1920, and seven years ago came to live in Auckland. He officiated for some time at the church in Kingston Avenue, Mount Roskill.

Mr. Murray represented the Church at various conferences both in Australia and New Zealand. From 1597 to 1901 he was secretary of the New Zealand Methodist Conference, and in 1902 was elected President. He was also for a period treasurer of the children's fund of the Church, and during the war did good work on the Methodist Committee amongst the soldiers. He was at the time of his death co-treasurer with Mr. A. C. Caughey of the Methodist Theological College building fund. Mr Murray was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, being a Past Master, and on four occasions was elected Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. For ten years Mr. Murray was a Justice of the Peace. He had served on various school committees, and at one time was chairman of the Feilding District High School, also of the Masterton High School Board. Mr. Murray is survived by his wife and the following children: Mr. C. R. Murray, of Taumarunui, and Mrs. H. D. Pritehard, of Cambridge. A funeral service has been arranged for to-morrow afternoon at the Dominion Road Methodist Church.

MR. J. G. BESWICK. The death took place at Tauranga on Thursday of Mr. John George Beswick, formerly of the Post and Telegraph Department. He was born at Kaiapoi 71 years ago, and on leaving school went to sea. A couple of years later he joined the Government service. was postmaster at Takapau, Te Aroha, Pic-ton, Lyttelton. Tauranga. and Whangarei, retiring after 40 years' service. For the last six years Mr. Beswick lived at Tauranga. and was a leading supporter of the Regatta Club. He is survived by Mrs. Beswick and four children.