THE RIFLEMAN'S FRIEND.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1008, 24 December 1910, Page 5

THE RIFLEMAN'S FRIEND.

• [ DEATH OF COL. SOMMERVILLE. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent! M Wanganui, December 23. One of the best-known-figures in this district, Col. J; R. Sommerville ; ' pass- ; $d away last night at his residence, Ash- • grove, No.2Line.,The deceased colonel 1 " was 67 years of ago, having -been bom in Ireland in 1843. At an early age ho came to New Zealand with his father, ■ who. was. in-the Imperial Army, and . whose regiment'had then been ordered to this country on account of-tho Maori war.' His boyhood was spent at Tura"lvin.i, arid lie then' removed to No. 2 Line, about five_miles from < Wanganui, ■where he has resided ever since. ' Colonel lived a very busy life,* but could always spare time from ■' ' Ijis farming pursuits ■ to. render service ■ to,'the public. 'In facti the ■services which lie rendered were as numerous ■ as tjjey were valuable. For some 30.years' he wa's a prominent figure on local bodies, ; He.. served, 1 on the :■ Wanganui . County Coancil (of which body he was chairman for several years)! V.iugamii ■ Harbour Boardj' Wanganui Hospital, 1 and Charitable- Aid Board; and 'Puruu Road; Board. He was-also a'justice of the peace. ,Iri all these capacities lie showed energy arfd enthusiasm—t.jvo ■■ qualities which have always distinguished him in everything lie: undertook. , • . Tn military'matters 'Colonel'.SommerG 'ViMtf was; well' kity.wn* during the > troubles nt with the Natives r 6ft Ms'/dbaitfl Heifea- , tired: the old Wanganui'Cavah-y, -and . later 'the Alexandra Cavalry (now- the ■ Alexandra Mounted Rifles).' .'He rose step by-step'through-all grades till .lie . obtained the caotamcy- of'-'the corps, a post which he held for several years'. He wasjthetf promoted to: major, by . which time he had earned the volunteer officers', decoration,' arid was appointed . to the command of the Ist AVellington Battalion of' Mounted Rifles. He was later promoted to ■ the .rank .of;lieutenant-colonel, 'and on the outbreak of the Boer War, voluntc«red for-service in South :-Africa, •'where/..for a time,-ho. commanded, tho ' .;"-Eifth'.,New Zealand '.'.Contingent;. receiv- - the Queen's. Medal,..and.being promoted . the full ;i'arik'ot colonel in the New Zealand, Militia.- " : ' .. , : ■ In - nothing, ■ however,'. was '. Colonel , Sommerville better kriown'than in' connection with the New Zealand Rifle Association. ,Aa enthusiastic rifle 'shot himself, he.' quickly- became . prominent . in ,the affairs., of .the.' association, and ...was-soon given a. place on its.execu- -' tiyd," afterwards becoming chairman. % :TSrongh thick and thiri he kept the association going, arid,' when evil days fell on it, and it threatened to ..collapse • through lack of interest' and want of : money, Colonel Sommerville "kept the flag flying," financing it out of his ov,-n mpansi and inspiring everyone with his own cheerful optimism. Filially, tlio had to be taken under the , i ;wmg of the Defence Department, but the credit for keeping it .alive belonged, .almost wholly, to Colonel Sotrimerville, - and it. is hardly too much to say that, but for his efforts, there might', be no ■ Irentham meeting to-day: ■ •-■ :. " In private life Colonel- Sommerville was beloved by everybody. He was ?■ ?, of rigid 'uprightness, of tho. Kindliest nature; and possessed of a cheery spirit, which nothing could .... quench. For tho last two years he suffered from a painful illness, which lie bore with the courage and cheerfulness so of him, and though, for .weeks past, he had almost daily expected the end, his fortitude .never-flagged.. His death will be .- :hoard of with regret, not only ~; all . over .this district, ; but in all parts ■ of the Dominion, for he had friends .. He Icaves.a widow, seven . : sons, and Jive daughters. : Sommerville will be accorded . a military funeral, the interment tak]ng P at Slat arawa on Sunday morn-