OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18894, 8 January 1927, Page 17

OBITUARY.

I.A'IK MR G. IT. SARGEANT. 'I 111-. (Irntli (wrunnil on Thursday of Mr George Jiackwood Sargeant, one of I In; 11.,re]in;t N|>t rt..s ill Canterbury. Fur vla I years, Mr tiarWinit had held the jJ'J.sition of apiary instructor to the ChrLtchurcli branch ■i[ tin; Department of .Agriculture, and during hi.-, Icrin of office was of great assistance to bee-keepers throughout the province. Tho latu .Mr was horn at Jamaica, -JO years ago, and was later educated at Cheltenham College, England. J(i; wan tho son of a planter, and alter cr>niplctil his education in England, went to the Argentine where he joined an uncle- at fanning. Oil ilio outbreak of the South African war ho joined the J'ir.'t Kings Hussars, and served throughout the campaign with that corps, ile wa - the recipient of the Kind's ;',n<] Queen's medals with livo clasps" Alter the war ho went to India with his regiment, and served there for sever;'il years, lie later returned to England, where ho was actively engaged in bee farming. Ho went then to Australia, where he tried farming, but eventually came to New Zealand, During tho late war, Mr Sargeanfs was a quartermaster-sergeant at Trentham Military Camp. When his military duties were completed, Mr Sergeant entered the Department of Agriculturo as Apiary Instructor, and retained tho position until his death. Tho funeral took place yesterday, when tho Itev. Frank Dunnage conducted tho graveside service. The cortege included: Mr and Mrs T. Best, I Mr and Mrs A. Ecroyd, Messrs Emerson, Moss, T. Pearson, H. Buseh, J. Andrews (Department of Agriculture), D. G. llogL r (Horticulture Department), Pnynter (Horticultural Department), McKenzio (Live Stock Division), Mr and Mrs Williams, and Mr and Mrs Waimvright. Wreatlis were sent by tho following: Mr and Mrs A. Ecroyd, Mrs Baker, members of the Cambrian Society, National Beekeepers' Association) the offico staff of the Department of Agriculture, the Social Committee of the National Beekeepers' Association, Mrs Williams and family, Hetty and Jim Rothwell, 'rrother officers of the Department of Agriculture, Canterbury branch of the Beekeepers' Association, Mr and Mrs It. J. Estall, A.M.P. Society. Mr and Mrs G. Thurston, Sir and Mrs Wainwricht, C. and M. Foster, and by his widow. MR J. T. WARD. 0110 of tho most noted figures in the astronomical world, Mr J. T. Ward, of Wanganui, has passed away. His death will bo regretted by hundreds of friends in New Zealand, and astronomers the world over. The late Mr Ward, who came from England, has resided in Wanganui for a great many years. He was educated for tho priesthood, but abandoned the idea of joining tho Church Ho was recognised as a groat authority on astronomy. In fact, his works are better known in other parts of the world than they are in this country. He took up the study of this most interesting subject at an early ago and acquirod a wealth of knowledge of the heavenly bodies which enabled him to propound several theories which were accepted by other leading authorities. In fact, so vast was his store of knowledge that ho had frequent communications- on astronomical matters from various professors. As hon. director of tho Wanganui Observatory, ho was instrumental in getting a number of young men to take up the study of astronomy. He has manufactured many expensive refractor telescopes and installed .1 10-inch refractor at his private residence, which is recognised as tho best instrument in the southern hemisphere. Mr Ward regularly for years past contributed astronomical notes to various New Zealand papers. MR JAMES FLEMING. (MESS ASSOCIATIOX TELEGRAM.) INVEROARGILL, January 7. Tho death is announced, after an operation at Dunedin, of James Fleming, a well-known Southland farmer, aged 75. He took .1 prominent part) in public affairs, and long was identified with county councils, Hospital Board, A. and P. Society, and other institutions. His estate at Rakahouka is the model farm of Southland.

AN ENGLISH ARTIST. (BT CABLE—P.RES3 ASSOCIATION— COPIWOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND X.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, January 6. The death lias occurred of Mr Fredorick Cayley Robinson, tho artist. [Mr Robinson painted "Youth," now in tho Capo Town permanent collection, "A Winter Evening," and "The Fisherman," which are in Italian national collections, "Tho Death of Abel," now in tho Luxembourg Art Gallery, Paris, and "Pastoral," which was purchased for tho nation under the terms of the Chan trey Bequest.]