OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 40, 10 November 1921, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR. G. E. TOLHURST The death occurred at his residence, Grant Road, on Tuesday night, of a well-known and striking Wellington figure, Mr. G. E. Tolhurst, late inspector In NeW Zealand for the Union Bank of Australia. TSS deceased gentleman, who was Bl years of age, was a native of Kent, England and though Ee spent the greater part of his lite in the colonies, ho was proud of his native county-proud of being “a man. of Kent.’ He left Howe in company with a cousin, at the age of 17 years, drawn io Australia by tho magic of the big gold, finds at Bendigo and Ballarat. For twelve, years he was on the Victorian fields, and later became connected with the stafi of a bank branch at Prahran, then a small suburb of Melbourne, and now a city as large as Wellington. In 1869, whilst still in Melbourne, he married a daughter of Mr. Robert Molcsworth, a Supremo Court Judge. Mr. Tolhurst rose to be an inspector of the National Bant of Australasia, but 45 years ago he resigned from that service to become manager of the Bank of New Zcamnd •at Wellington. He held that position until 18S9, when he went to Auckland to temporarily act as general manager. In 1890 he retired from the service of the Bank of New Zealand, and joined that of the Union Bank of Australia here us resident inspector, succeeding Mr. Joseph Palmer. He . retained that honoured position until October 1, 1911. when he retired. The late Mr. Tolhurst, though he abjured public life, took a very live interest in public affairs, municipal and political, and could always bo depended upon as an original and caustic critic of current topics. He was a good raconteur, and having a rather wonderful memory for detail, lie could always entertain vastly with his varied experiences on the ©Oldfields, and’ rough and crude life there. He was actively associated with the business affairs of St. Paul’s ProCathedral for many years, and was one nf the Wellington Diocesan trustees. He ‘was a member of the Wellington Club, of which tie was at one time president. Itis wife died thirteen years ago, ana a son, Dr. Alex. Tolhurst, was killed in France on May S. 1918. The surviving eons are Mr. R. M. Tolhurst, oT Auckland (formerly a member of the Wellington City Council), and Mr. G. Gerald Tolhurst, sharebroker, of Wellington; and the daughter being Mrs. T. Young, of Wellington.