OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 5

OBITUARY.

JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR. (BT CASUS— fEESS ASSOCIATIOS—CO?rRIGHT.) (ArSTRAMAS AXD X.Z. Ajn> SOT CABLE.) (Received October 31st, 10.50 p.m.) BERLIN, October 31. The death has occurred of Maximilian Harden, journalist, author, and politician, at the age of 65 years.

MR T. S. TOWNEND. (SI CA3LC—?M4B ASSOCIATION— COPTBIGHT.) (AfSIEALIAX AM> X.Z. CABU ASSOCUTIOX.) LONDON, October 30. Tlie death. has occurred; at London of Mr Thomas £cnior Towneiid, a former manager of the Australian Press Association.

MR H. M. SMEETON. (FP.ISS ASSOCIATION' TBLtORAM.'I AUCKLAND, October 31. The death has occurred of Mr H. M. Smcetoji, head of the firm of Smeeton, Ltd., provision merchants, until 1917, in which year he retired from active business. He was a well-known figure in the municipal life of Auckland for several years, and he was also a prominent member of the Baptist Church, having been president of the Union in 1924.

MR CHARLES E. HANSEN. There passed away at Christchurch last week Mr Charles E. Hansen, a bandsman who was well known throughout New Zealand as a bass player. He had been connected with bands since the age of seventeen. He was a member of the New Zealand representative combination which toured Great Britain in 1903, and had control of the Bluff Naval Band tor only six months before it won the quickstep and selections at the contest .at Invercargill in 190-5. He was conductor of the Bluff Band for six years. The old City Band. Invercargill, which later amalgamated with the Invercargill Garrisojn Band, was the first which Sir Hansen joined. Shortly after his return from the Dominion Band's tour of Great Britain he took charge of the Bluff Naval Band. Going to Invercargill six years later, Mr Hansen joined the ranks of the Hibernian Band, and was later conductor of the Dominion Band, which amalgamated with the Garrison combination.

Coming to Christchurch with his family in 1921, Mr Hansen, while a member of the Woolston Band, gained first place in solo work at „the following contests:—l 922, at Wellington; 1923, at New Plymouth; 1924, at Christchurch. It ia interesting to note that at the last-named contest both Mr Hansen and his eldest son won their test solos. Retiring from solo contests, Mr Hansen took up the baton of the newly-formed Papanui Band until his illness, on account of which he resigned. He passed away at his residence, 74 Hewitt's road, • Merivale, last Friday. _ The pall-bearers at the funeral consisted cf members of the Papanui and Woolston Bands. A representative of the _ South Island Bands' Association was in attendance.