OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16159, 13 March 1918, Page 8

OBITUARY.

THE HON. A. T. MAGINNITY, M.L.C. (special to "tue press.") NELSON, March 12. The death of the Hon. Andrew Thomas Maginnity, M.L.C., occurred at his residence, Brougham street, Nelson, this morning, from heart failure, after a short illness. Mr Maginnity was born at Wellington in '1849, of Irish parentage. His father came j to New Zealand in 1847, and was (in I the hospital staff of the 65th Regiment. The late Mr Maginnity received his education at Wellington, and passed the Civil Service examination in lbtiS and entered the Treasury as a junior clerk. In 1873 he was . appointed chief clerk of the Telegraph Department, and two years later he became Assistant Secretary for Telegraphs and, in 1876, he was promoted to the position of Secretary of the Department. Threo years later lie was transferred to Collingwood t.s officer in charge of the Post and Telegraph Office, where he was also clerk of the Magistrate's and Wardens' Courts, Receiver of Gold Revenue, and Mining Registrar. He retained these positions for seven years, when he resigned and commenced practice as a solicitor, having in the meantimo studied law and passed the examinations. The late Mr Maginnity was attached to the No. 2 Division of Armed Constabulary, which took part in General Whitmore's pursuit of Titokowaru, tho Taranaki Maori.rebel. The first I torpedo corps in New Zealand was formed whilst he was secretary of tho Telegraph Department, and it consisted principally of employees of the service, and Mr Maginnity was elect,ed captain. After ho took up his residence in Nelson he was elected captain of "H" Battery of Artillery, and held command for about eighteen months. Mr Maginnity took an activo interest in educational matters, and held office as a School Commissioner and member of the Nelson Education Board, of which he was for some timo chairman, and ho was also a member of Victoria University College Council. He was appointed Chancellor of the diocese of Nelson in 1907, and held that position till his. death. In 1914 Mr Maginnity, who was a strong supporter of the Reform Party, was called to the Legislative Council. Mr Maginnity was a member of Victory Lodge of Freemasons, No. 40, N.Z.C., and in former years took a keen interest in tho welfaro of the Craft. He was associated with the Nelson Defence Rifle Club and the New Zealand Swimming Council, and as a member of the latter body controlling the School swimming, he attended the recent championship meeting at Wanganui. While he was there he lost some of his personal effects in the fire which destroyed Foster's Hotel. Mr Maginnity was not in the hotel at the time of the fire, but tho occurrence had consequences which told on his health, and he was confined to his bed on his return to Nelson and never recovered. At many patriotic, gatherings since the War, both in Nelson and elsewhere, Mr Maginnity was among the speakers, and he always took an earnest view of the Dominion's part in the great struggle.

Mr Maginnity leases a widow, -,wo sons, and four daughters. The sons are Mr A. C. Maginnity, solicitor, of Nelson, and Mr L. W. Maginnity, chief clerk in the Lands and Deeds Office, Nelson. In the Supreme Court to-day, Mr Justice Chapman said he learned with great regret of the death of the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, who, he said, was a great loss to the Bar and the community of Nelson. The deceased was a strenuous fighter, and always kept the interest of his client in tho forefront. His Honour said he always found him a. courteous and high-mind-ed gentleman.

| The flag on the Post Office, Christchurch, was at half-mast yesterday out of respect to the late Hon. A. T. Maginnity, M.L.C., of Nelson. There died at his residence, Petono, on Saturday, Mr Maurice Roche, for many years a highly-respected and valuable member of the New Zeaian 1 Police Force. "When a young man Mr Roc]ir> joined the Metropolitan Police, London, and from there went to America, and joined the 13th New York Cavalry, taking part in the Battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded. After the war he came to New Zealand" and joined the Armed Constabulary, and took part in the Parihaka disturbance. Constable Roche was stationed at Paekakariki, Eket'ihuna, and Amberley, where he distinguished himself by "the arrest of the .man Sheehan, who was hanged for the murder of a girl named Agnes Lawcock. After 36 years' service Constable Roche retired on pension in 190/, and took up his residence at Petone. He was in failing health during the past twelve months. His age *"a3 <o years. death occurred at Rona Bay, Wellington, on Sunday, of Mr Abra-

ham Lovy, who hod been in business in Wellington as a clothing manufacturer for some years. The deceased was a native of London, and canio out to New Zealand when a boy. For a considerable time before his death he had suffered from heart trouble. Air Levy has left a widow, two sons (Captain Louis Levy, R.A.M.C., shortly to return from. London on furlough, and Air Benjamin Levy, of Wellington), and two daughters, one of whom is Airs Frank Goldberg, of Wellington. A son (Sergeant Edward Levy) was recently killed in action. /