OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 8

OBITUARY.

fr HON. THOMAS THOMPSON. ' A Press Association telegram from Auckland notifies the death, at the age of 86, of tlie Hon. Thomas Thompson, who v,-as Minister of Justice and Defence in the Seddon Ministry from 1896 to 1899. Mr Thompson, who was a native of Cork, Ireland, camo out to Melbourne in 1853 upon the discovery of gold in Australia, and commenced business as a carrier from Melbourne to the various stores in the interior. Owing to ill-health he came to Auckland °\nd started in the grocery and provision business, from which he _re- • tired in 1893. He took a great interest in the volunteer movement, and was one of the first to serve in that force when it was started in 1858. Ho held a commission, and served in the Native troubles in - the early sixties, part of the time with" the Imperial troops. He entered politics in the general election of ISB4. when ho was elected for Auckland North by a large majority. In 1890 ho defeated Mr Samuel Yaile—the railway reformer — for the same Mr Thompson was defeated at the general election in 1893, but in the by-election in the following year, caused by the retirement of Sir George Grey, ho was again returned by a majority of nearlv 2000 votes against Mr Monk. In March, 1896, he was appoiuted Minister of Justice in the Seddon Government, and a few months 'ater received the portc folio of Defence. At tho 1596 election he was returned for Auckland City, ab the head or the poll, there being ten iandidates foi the three .beats. He retired iron: politics and ■ from Mr Seddoh's Government at tho (Jose of 1899. MR DONALD MUNRO. On Sunday the number of old identities among the agricultural community

of South Canterbury was lessened by the death of Mr Donald Munro, who passed away at his residence, "Dalmore" Farm, Kings down, in his 77th year. Mr Munro was a native of Alness, Rosshiro. At the age of 19 he came' to New Zea-1 land, landing at Port Chalmers in 1862. For several years he was in the employment of Mr 3>onald Reid, at the Taieri. He then bought a team and waggon, and was engaged in carting stores from Dunedin to the gold fields at Queenstown and Dunstan. Following this he was farming at Hampden for about ten yjears, and while there showed characteristic enterprise in importing a threshing plant. He 'finally settled down on Kingsdown, where he purchased 200 acres in the tussock, which' he broke up and hag farmed ever since. As a young man in Otago he was famous as a rough-rider. He was always partial to •'horses, and from time to time did some useful breeding of both heavy and light horses. He was not a racing man, but some notable racecourse performers passed through his hands, including Faugh-a-Ballagh, a Grand National winner. fMr Munro married in 1889. Miss Ross, of his native country, and he leaves four son s and two daughters, all married except one son. and 22 grandchildren. ' Corporal Harman Fancourt, whoso death look place at Hastings on Saturday, the result of a motor accident, enlisted from Napier with the Main Body, and served right through. the war. He only returned on furlough by the Ulimaroa some few weeks ago, and was spending his leave with some of his Napier friends. Prior to enlisting he was employed bv Mossrs Sargood Son,.and Ewen. He was a keen yachtsman and and was the first honorary secretary of the Otaao Motor Club. The death is announced at New Plymouth of Mr Charles Ahier, aged 7(3. He was a very old colonist, a Waikato war Veteran, and was associated with, the early gold ventures in the Thames. During the last 25 year s lie had been in the timber trade in Taranaki.