LATE MR. CHAS. HILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 9

LATE MR. CHAS. HILL

AN APPRECIATION. (Contributed.) The late Mr. Charles Hill, sen., whose death took place on Thursday night; removes from the bowling world a genial personality and a generous host whose memory will not be easily dimmed or dispersed by Time's relentless march. Mr, Hill, or "Dad," as he was affectionately called by the fortunate bowlers with whom he was intimate, was always of a bright, cheery disposition, fond of a joke told, and fond of telling one. He radiated a certain pleasantry, which helped to make him loved by all—for he was a good deal more thon popular in the ordinary sense of the word. As the proprietor of the Te Hiwi Club's green, he was a cheery host, known to bowler's from Auckland to Invercargill, and a visit to Wellington without a visit to "Te Hiwi" meant a bad miss on the part of a touring bowler. The late Mr. Hill was wedded to good music, and his pride in the varied accomplishments of his sons was something to admire and respect him for. All Australasia knows of 'Mr. Alfred Hill,' the composer of "Hinemoa," "Tapu," "Waiata Poi," "Waiata Maori," "Maori Symphony," "My Fairest Child," and a great deal of splendid music. It was the deceased's enthusiasm for art that induced him to send both Alfred and John to Leipzig. Mr. E. J. Hill, the veteran tenor, has been a great asset to Wellington for thirty years past, and his vocal virility to-day is quite astonishing to those who havo associated with him throughout the past generation. Another son is Mr. Charles Hill, the doyen of New Zealand's flautists, and the instructor of Mr. John Amadio, and many other flautists, all over Australasia. Mr. Charles Hill has been connected with the hatter's side of the old-established business of Charles Hill and Sons (in the manufacturing department), whilst Messrs, E. J. and W. R. Hill have managed the business for over a decade past. Of the two daughters, Mrs. (Mabel) M'lndoe, of Dunedin, was very talented. She was a bright amateur actress in the early days, and in artistic circles, was noted for her fine colour sense and composition. Mrs. M'lndoe was one of the most successful pupils of the late Mr. J. M. Nairn. Miss Minnie Hill has resided with and tended her father devotedly at "Te Hiwi" (Island Bay) for some years past. The late Mr. Hill was born at Bristol in 1832, and came out to Australia when 21 years of age in the ship Clara Symes, arriving in Melbourne in 1853 in the fevered days of the great gold rush. With thousands of others he made for Ballarat and became a digger, but finding that the gold was not so easily won as fancy had depicted, he decided to migrate to America, and go in for farming with his brothers at Wisconsin. There he found the winter conditions too severe for work in the open, so with one of his brothers he commenced a tailoring business, and was successful until burnt out. Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War he returned to England, but did not remain there long. Australia called him over the seas. Arrived at Melbourne he entered the employ of Sanderson and Co., tailors. Six years later he commenced business on his own account at Richmond. In 1870 he decided to try his fortune in New Zealand, settling in Auckland, became a partner in the firm of Hill, Fenton, and Fulvert. Five years later he left that firm and came to Wellington, and established the business that still bears his name.

Mr. Hill was one of the oldest members of the Wellington Bowling Club, and was an active player up till seven or eight years ago. In later years he devoted a great deal of his time to the beautification of Te Hiwi, and he was never so happy as when he was entertaining "a full green" on. a sunny summer's day in hls arbored retreat at Island Bay.