Obituary MR A. HOLMES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 18

Obituary MR A. HOLMES

The chairman of the Ashburton Licensing Trust, Mr A. Holmes, died in the Ashburton Hospital on Wednesday evening. He had been in ill health for several months.

Mr Holmes, who was 64. was born and educated at Ashburton. In 1912, he started work with his uncle. Mr J. E. Rule, in a garage in Cass street, and five years later he was admitted to the firm of James E. Rule. Ltd., and remained with it until it ceased to operate in 1925 Together with his brother-in-law, Mr F. Watson, he then started business in Ashburton under the name of Ashburton Motors, Ltd. He retired from this business in 1953. Mr Holmes tvas a keen supporter of the Retail Motor Traders’ Association, and was one of the members with the longest service to the Ashburton branch. He served a term as president and was secretary at the time of his death. He was also the Ashburton delegate to the New Zealand association, a member of the Dominion council and a member of the New Zealand tractor section of the Association for several years Mr Holmes was a successful candidate at the Ashburton Licensing Trust elections tn 1956, and he was elected chairman in November, 1959. He was also a member of the executive of the New Zealand Licensing Trust Association.

Mr Holmes took an active interest in road safety in the county, and was chairman of the Ashburton Road Safety Committee since it was formed in 1955. A keen sportsman. Mr Holmes enjoyed duck shooting and seldom missed a season. For a number of years he was a member of the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association, and the County Club. Mr Holmes is survived by one daughter. Miss Colleen Holmes, of Ashburton. Mrs Holmes died several years ago.

MR T. A. JOHNSTON

The death occurred recently of Mr Thomas Arthur Johnston, who was district engineer at Wellington for the Ministry of Works from 1941 until he retired in 1948. He was 78.

Mr Johnston, who was born at Kaitangata, joined the Lands and Survey Department In 1899. and became a licensed surveyor. In 1911 he resigned from the department and went overseas, taking a bachelor of science degree in engineering and qualifying as an A.M.I.C.E at Edinburgh in 1914. Mr Johnston joined the Public Works Department on the West Coast in 1915. He was largely responsible for setting out the works in the Otira tunnel to enable the accurate meeting of the headings. Later Mr Johnston was resident engineer at Shannon in charge of the Mangahao hydro-electric scheme. As district engineer on the West Coast from 1928 to 1934 Mr Johnston did much to improve the harbours at Greymouth and Westport and also to establish an all-weather road south to the West Coast glaciers He was also concerned with restoration work after the Murchison earthquake in 1929.

WR C. FITZGERALD

A former All Black and New Zealand Rugby League representative, Mr Charles James Fitzgerald, of Upcot, Marlborough, died on Monday. He’ was 61.

Mr Fitzgerald played Rugby for Marlborough and in 1922 toured Australia with a New Zealand team as a three-quarters. The next year he played in Christchurch at full back for Marist, which won the senior

championship that season. Later. Mr Fitzgerald changed to the Rugby League code and gained New Zealand honours. FATHER J. O’NEILL (N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN. May 11. A former rector of New Zealand’s theological seminary. Holy Cross College. Mosgiel. the Very Rev. Father James O’Neill, CM, died suddenly in Australia today, according to advice received at the college. Father O’Neill, who was 45. was president of St. Stanislaus' College. Bathurst. He was well known in New Zealand as a member of the professorial staff of Holy Cross College. Mosgiel, during the years 1949 to 1957 He was rector for the last three years of that period. He was ordained a priest in 1941. Solemn Requiem Mass will be offered for him in the chapel of Holy Cross College on Monday.