OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1606, 25 November 1912, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. CHARLES JANION. AN INTERESTING CAREER. Mr. Charles Janion, one of the oldest pressmen in the Dominion, passed away yesterday morning at the Shamrock Hotel, - Moleswortk Street, Wellington, where he bad lived for the past dozen years. He was about eighty-two years of age. " 1 When quite a'young man, Mr. Janion left England for Melbourne, and Jjecame acquainted with most of the pressmen on the Melbourne "Argus," "Age," end ,"Herald." Later on he' came across to Dunedin, and'workedas a compositor on. the "Otigo "Daily Times," when the late Sir Julius Vogel was editor, aud Mr. B. L; Farjeon, the English novelist, was subeditor; For a time Mr. Janion was foreman printer 'of the Nelson "Examiner," in the days what that paper had an exceptionally brilliant group of leader-writers, including Mr.' Alfred Domett, the poet Premier, the Richmoiids, the Staffords, and other leading men, for at that period Nelson aspired to be the seat of Government,- .when the rich Kumara goldfield broke out, Messrs. Korr and Arnott, proprietors of the "Grey River Argus," started the "Kumara Times." The late Mr. Arnott, who was a confrere and life-long frieiid of Mr. Janion's, sent for him to take charge of the'new paper, and ho remained ■: a" considerable number of years in Kumara, whilst there becoming intimately acquainted with the late Mr. Seddon and other leading men on the West Coast. After severing his connection with Kumara, Mr. Janion visited bis relatives in England, -and brought back with, him ai) interesting "family tree" record 'of the Janions, who were a very old English family. .. ■; Upon his return to the Dominion he met the lato .Mr. Seddon, who asked him if he had anything in yiew. Mr. Janion replied'that he had worked out some detailsof a "year book," and would be prepared to produce one if the Government' would assist; by furnishing the necessary statistics. ' "Toe very thing Mr. Ballance hasibeen talking about," said Mr. Sed."Come along, and see him." With that, .the two ;old friends jumped into a .©ab,>saw iit.. Ballance,. and, after 6ome preliminary discussion, it was decided to start the publication of the "New Zealand Year Book." For the first couple of jears the compilation and revision of the ' Year Book"-mainly fell to' Mr.. Janion, and he was a familiar figure at-the. Government Printing Office. ;".As the work grew in importance, Mr. Janion, to use his own words, "got side-tracked," and the production' was entrusted : to other hands. Mr. Janion always felt sore that, just as the 6UCC6SS of the work had. been assured, he was "side-tracked," and last session he petitioned i Parliament, asking. for some tangible recognition of his services, alleging that his small' superannuation (about ■M 03..- 6d. per week) was inadequate for his maintenance. Like ■ most literary men; -Mr. Janion did not set much store on money; no one ever appealed to him in vain'for'a subscription; for a good object. He was in receipt of e small annuity from England, but not enough to make of material'' difference in his circumstances. He was for many years one of the leading chess-players iii the Dominion, and took parfc'in most of the principal games. .He was.' a'student of astronomy,- and from' time to: time contributed, .-note to the press on this-'and' other interesting topics. Mr; Janion is survived % a sister' and two ' step-sisters/ ' all of ' whom 'reside in England.- He had no relatives in 'the Dominion. •.'. . . The funeral takes place at 2 p.m. today. . ; v . : .