OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 225, 11 June 1918, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR. CHARLES YATES FELL, OF

NELSON

One of the best-known men of the kelson province, and" one whose esteemed nanio is associated with the history of Kelson, died suddenly at 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, in tho person of Mr. Charles Tales Fell, a brother of Dr. Walter Fell, of Wellington (now on active service abroad), and a member of a pioneer family of distinction. Though Mr. Fell was 7'i years of age. his death came as a shock to his Wellington relatives and friends, for ho was robust for his years,, and, having been an ardent lover of outdoor sports all his days, was accounted hardy, and likely to live to a great age. He had boon ailing a little (more on account of rheumatism than anything else) a few months ago, and had_ undergone* treatment at Hannier. but quite recently his health had been very. good. Within, the last fortnight Mr. Fell had accompanied Mr. H. M. (lore (president of tho New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts) on a sketching tour up the Mnitai Valley, where both gentlemen succeeded in securing a number of excellent sketches of that picturesque spot. When Mr.. Goro parted from him ten days ago MrFell was in the .best of health and. snirits, and rather gloried in his physical htnesa.

where both gentlemen succeeded in securing a number of excellent sketches of that picturesque spot. When Mr.. Goro parted from him ten days ago MrFell was in tho .best of health and. snirits, and rather gloried in his physical fitness. The lato Mr. Fell was for many years in partnership with the late Mr. A. S. Atkinson (brother of Sir Harry Atkinson, at ono timo Premier of New Zealand), nnd after his death carried ore. tho business solus until a decade siro,, when he handed over the reins to )ii« son, Mr. Richmond Fell. The deceased was born in Nelson in IBM, and after receiving an early education at the kindly hands of Archdeacon Paul, he was sent; to England, and entered on tho register of Jung's College, London. From that famous public school ho went to St. John's College, Oxford, where lie took his degree.in 1877, and was admitted as a. barrister of tho Inner Temple in Jabr oft that year. He joined the Homo circuit, and after an cxperienco of English, practice ho'returned to New Zealand, and commenced practice in Nelson, in partnership with the lato Mr. A. S.- Atkinson. For many years he was Crown. Solicitor in Nelson; he was Mayor ui Nelson for five years, and for a quarter of a century was Registrar of the Diocese of Nelson, and for tho same'length, of time a governor of Nelson College. Mr. Fell was a disciple of life in tho open, and all forms of manly sport wero as an open book to him. As a young man at Oxford ho was a fmo swimmer, and was for four years stroke of his college boat in the annual eight-oared rowing contests. He was as much at home on horseback as on foot, and in. tho days of coaching was a. noted whip.. If he favoured one sport more than another it was yachting. He had a deepseatod love for a tight little craft, and a spanking breeze, was a safe hand at tho tiller, and his knowledge of tho weather in Blind Bay is said to havo been positively uncanny. In other words he profited by unusual powers of observation,, and it was no uncommon thing for tiro masters of small craft trading to Nelson. to consult Mr. Fell as to' the weather prospects when about to sail. Later in life he became a keen amateur photographer, and was accounted one of tho best in the Dominion. Less than a. score of years ago he developed a taste, for painting, and turned out some highly creditable work. As related above, Mr. Foil was away up the Maitai Valley with his palette and paints only a few days ago. Add to these qualities a cultured, tasto for music, and the range of tho deceased's attributes are fairly comprehensively covered. ■ Mr. Fell was twice married. . Hia widow is tho daughter of his late partner and a sister of Mr. A. 11. Atkinson, solicitor, of "Wellington. The children, by the first wife are Mesdames Daubeney, Randolph (both in England), Humphreys and Lindo Levieu (of Wellington), and Dr. A. Nolan Fell, formerly in practice at Colchester, England, but now on military duty at Salonika. Tho issue by the second marriage are Mr. Charles Richmond Fell (at present conducting the legal business in Nelson), Miss Phyllis Fell (now at work with tho V.A.D. in England), and Mrs. Brocketfc (wife of Mr. Brockett, a master at tho Christchurch Technical College). Deceased's brothers are Dr. Walter Fell, of Wellington, Sir Arthur Fell, M.P. (England), and Mr. Nelson Fell, a distinguished mining engineer, in Siberia when last heard of. Mr. George Fell, of Blenheim and Wellington, who died a few months ago, was another brother. Several relatives and friends left Wellington last evening to attend tha funeral.