OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1020, 9 January 1911, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR, W..F. PARSONS. An old and much respected- resident of Wellington, Mr. William- Frederick Parsons, died at his residence,' Lower Hutt, on Saturday. Tho late Mr. Parsons, who ■was born in the County of Kent, England, camo out to Wellington in .the Royal , Stuart, in 1855.' He was toy trado a builder and contractor, and as a member of the firm of Gascoyne and Parsons, he was concerned in tho .erection of many of the principal building's of "Wellington from the beginnings of tho city. H© was also a prominent figure in musical circles being, a violinist of marked ability, and for many years a member of tho Orchestral Society. Mrs. Parsons (who was n Miss Widdop, of Wellington) fully shared his musical tastes, and was for a considor- . able period regarded as the leading singer . of Wellington. Tho late Mr. Parsons had resided at Lower Hutt for the last-seven or eight ( years. Ho had been ailing for eomo timo, but his death, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, was quite sudden. Heart failure is assigned as the cause. Mrs. Parsons survives him, and' ho leaves four sons and five daughters. Tho sons are George and William, in Wellington; Harry, at Auckland; and Leonard, in' South Africa. The daughters are Mrs. J. E. Russell, Christcliurch; Mrs. C. Rowe, Auckland; Mrs. B. M Wilson, -Wellington; Mrs. F.rP. "\Vilis| Wellington; Parsons. Tho funeral will take place at 10.30 a.m. to-mor-tow at St. Paul's Church, Wellington, the deceased having been tho oldest member of the choir of that Church. MR. T. A. URWIN. Mr. T. A. TJnvin, an old resident of Wellington, died at his residence, Pirie Street, yesterday, after a long illness. The deceased gentleman, who was 71 .years of age, was a member of the Royal New Zealand Association of Veterans, and was a vice-president of tho local branch of the association. He served in the Crimea, being then in the Royal Navy, and also, after his arrival in New Zealand, in the Maori War, in the transport service. After the settlement of the Native troubles, Mr. TJrwin took over tho old Branch Hotel (long since removed), < which stood at the corner of Woodward Street and Lambton Quay, and latterly, ■before his retirement from active life! managed various other hotels. Mr. TJrwin was awarded the New Zealand.war medal, and also the Crimes medal. He was very highly respected by those who came into contact with him.