OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1735, 28 April 1913, Page 5

OBITUARY

ME. RICHARD A. MARSHALL. • A well-known figure in Wellington, in he person of Mr. Richard A. Marshall, Jassed away on Saturday jnorning. The Ueceased, who was 77 years of age, camo to New Zealand as a member of the 65th Regiment at the time of the first Maori .war, when he was tho youngest and smallest member of the band attached to that regiment. He remained with the regiment until lie was twenty-one years of age, and thon, accompanied by his ( wife, •ho wfent back to England, where he received his discharge. Subsequently he returned to New Zealand, and lived in Christohurch and Auckland :ror. a time bofore talcing up his residence in Wellington, where hq became 'the first 1 banu- • master of the Artillery Band, afterwards known-as the Garrison Band. In 1879 ha was appointed secretary and manager of. tho Theatre Royal, .tho lease of which was held from the City Council by the Public Hall and during, the sixteen years-ho occupied/that-positjon man? famous players appeared, including William Hoskins, W.-E. Sheridan, .Harkins (an American tragedian), Dion Boucicault, George Eignold, Sam Howard 1 , and many others, of whom Mr. Marshall could tell excellent stories. Tho lata Mr. Harry" Marshall, an excellonfc amateur (and afterwards professional) comedian, .was his eldest son. The other, sons ,are: Messrs.: Frank Marshall (of tho "Evening Post" literary, staff), Miv Alexander Marshall, of Mein Street, Mr. R.'A. Marshall (Wanganui), and Mr. Fred Marshall (Wellington). There are two daughters—Mesdames S- J. Maguire and F. Millar, Doth of Wellington. Mr. -Marshall is survived by. a widow. He was .at one time a 'prominent membor of the Eoyal Britannia: Lodge, 1.0.0. F., of which, he was Ip.p.G.M.,'and was ono of the oldest mem-, dots, of the Widows' and Orphans' So-; ;iety. For the past few years he has been' ,1n the .employ of Messrs.- - Gilmer and Maguire. . The deceased gentleman wns jv man of sterling-character, and much, esteemed for his gentle and kindly dis % position. i '