OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20176, 3 March 1931, Page 13

OBITUARY.

MR ALBERT EDWARD CLEMENTS. The respect in which the late Mr Albert Edward Clements, of Uiccarton, was held by the people of the distrifct was shown, by the representative attendance at his funeral ; at Bromley Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The funeral prooessioh left the Racecourse Hotel, and among those present were Mr P, D. McNab and the members ot the racecourse staff, who were paying their last respects to a fellow-em-ployee; members of the Trainers and Association, and executive 'officers and members of the Veterans Association of Army, Navy, ana Auxiliary Forces. Mr Clements, who was a native of Hounslow, London, served with the Imperial Forces in the South African War, and came _to New Zealand upon obtaining his discharge in 1903. Mr' Clements had no relatives in New Zealand, but*by.his industry and good-fellowship formed many firm friendships. The pall-bearers, members of tha VeteransVAssociation, we r.e Messrs A. Beck, C. G. Wallace, T. Hartley, and C. Foster. The Rev. H. T. Yorke conducted the burial service, at the conclusion of which Sergeant-Trumpeter F. Fox sounded Last Post.

MR EDWARD HOWDEN. The death occurred recently of Mr Edward Howden, for many years a resident in the Geraldine district. Born in 1840 in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Mi- Howden came to New Zealand in the ship Earigitiki, landing at Port Lyt~ telton in 1877. He went to Geraldine, where he resided for seven months, and later removed to Te Moana, which in the early days waß known as Rhubarb Flat. He purchased a section of 20 acres of land and started work on the Four Peaks Station, which was then owned by the Hon. L. Walker, and gradually extended'his property to 109 acres at Te Moana, and also 225 acres of land, a portion of the Four Peaks Station, where he obtained his first employment. He eventually sold out both properties and retired for a time to Geraldine. After the death of his wife some twelve years ago Mr Howden lived with his married and died at the residence of his •'daughter,. Mrs Hihes, Ellesmere, at the age of ninety years. Mr Howden was a man of sterling qualities, and was always ready to assist any neighbour in trouble. He has left ,three children— Mr Andrew Howden, of Rockwood; Mrs G. Davie, Gapes Valley, and Mrs Hines, Ellesmere. There afe, thirteen grandchildren. The funeral, which took place at Geraldine, was largely attended.

MR WILLIAM FORSYTH STEWART (UHIIXD PRESS ASSpCUTIOK— »t K.ECTBIC TSLKOB4TH—COPYBIOHT.) (Beceived March 2nd, 8.15' p.m.) SYDNEY, March 2. Jhe death has of Mr William Forsyth Stewart, a proinuient Sydney business" man, and formerly of Auckland.

OWEN MERTON. ' '' " '' (*kou -on* ©w xeaiMro*a«re.s^ir-"; LONDON, January 20. Owen Merton, artist, son of the late. Alfred Merton, of Christchurch. died ,at Middlesex .Hospital on January 18th. 1 .The funeral service was held to-day at Golder's Green Crematorium'. * There' were 'present: Mrs B. C. PeaTce (aunt), Mr E. Trier (brother-in-law), Mr Tom Merton (son), Mr and Mrs Tudor-Hart, Mr 0. Theiss, Mr F. B. Ford, and Dr. and Mrs T. Issod Bennett. ' 1 Owen Merton, who was 44 years of age, came to London in 1906.'' During that and the following years he studied 1 pointing under M. von' Havermaet. Afterwards, he studied fin Paris, and ! then in London' under Mr Tttdor-Hart. I The latter considered him ons of his , greatest pupils. In 1914, he married - an a American' girl and they lived for a time,in the Pyrenees. They returned to America iii 1917. and there'they remained 1 until in 1920 Mrs Merton died. Mr Merton, returned' to England and 1 was workinEat - his profession* until 1929. In 1928 ho was living in Kent. In 1929 he was 'in France, "where he was taken ill. He returned 4b London and entered the, Middlesex Hospital. Here, he, received "the most skilled attention, fcut has trouble grew steadily yrorse.'j A number of friends visited him con-", staptly -and h© was.tonder' the mediew 1 'carjs <>! a personal'friend, Dr. T ; - bod' Be'niwifct '(of Christchurch); physician or , Middlesex Hospital and Ifean of the, Medical School.- He died peacefully bft Sunday.' - * It is >'always difficult to, place artists of the modern school, but it is undoubtedly true that Merton was an r ; nrtist of ' outstanding* ■ ability. Sir Michael Sadler .once, wrote of Morton's paintings: "This t is the work of a Rieat'genius." Someone else has said,' ■' l New. - Zealand • has . produced . three great in-the realm of science, Katharine Mansneld in the , realm-of •literature,-and Merton in the reajm 'of •painting,'' Thwe are many, of,his paintings;-,in this country, in America,' and a number in New Zea- • land, and,, no doubt,--posterity will be able.to appraise-their merit.. < ' -Mi;. Merton leaves two, sons—one nged 15, who is being educated at Oakham -School, in England, and the ojiher, v some fcears younger, is' being .looked'*** after and educated by his ■mother's people in New York.

' The fear' of, brick chimneys entertained by many people since the eartliciunk« hns caused'much enquiry to be made regarding some other less insecure' mnierial, .yet, the experience of a Mobnka settler, savs the "Poverty' Bay ■I Tor ft Id," may convince v readers that brick" will not be easily Having lost several chimneys during a severe shock same years*ago, .this settler - had his chimneys, rebuilt m concrete. On the morning ( of the, earthquake he. stood outside his house, fairly sure they x would survive any «bock, but ,to liis dismay two of them brolce.'off at the, rodf level and crashed through iboth the roof jtnd ceiling of 'his' home; practifallv demolishing the two rooms into which they fellwA'S he puirits oufc r a brick chimney diPint'egTfltes falls m ' many parts-,' hut his concrete '.structures fell almost in 10ft, lengths, his well-built roof providing'' no " 1 - A request that, a prisoner' might be allowed to sit d<jwn in the 'dock was made in ttte Court' at New Plymouth last week* ,It ' rather cjose,' said' counsel, and the man Wa 'feejing warm and tired: t'ls he an invalidT'' asked Mr Justice • Adams. "he is not," said, the lawyer'/vWeIJ, ,the prisoner is.standing-at hiß ,Majesty's bar, and*.the Court has a certain dignity to>,|;eep up,'.' said his Honour. 'Unless you ~ can me >that he' is physically infirm, I cannot r grapt the- request,' Coansel. said h® fiould. not-say' tjiat.-: prisoner .had," asked him to he was tiredi. -