OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 191, 9 May 1940, Page 11

OBITUARY

Mr. Ernest E. Gillon After a brief illness the death, occurred yesterday in Wellington of Mr. Ernest Edward Gillon, formerly a prominent engineering official in the Railways Department, and sun of the la'te Mr. E. T. Gillon, a former editor of the “Evening Post.” Mr. Gillon, who was 72 years of age, was born in Dunedin. After leaving school at the age of 16 he entered the Railways Department as an apprentice in ISB4. Joining the engineering section he made rapid progress in tlie service, eventually being appointed to the head office, where he succeeded tlie late Mr. H. 11. Jackson as chief mechanical engineer, a position he held till his retirement in 1924. Mr. Gillon was the second New Zea-land-trained officer to rise to the position of chief mechanical engineer. During Ills connexion with the service he went right through the workshops, 'the locomotive department and traffic management, so that his knowledge of working railways was considerable. In 1914 he was placed in charge of the Addington workshops at Christchurch, being at that time assistant locomotive engineer for the South Island main line and branches. After remaining there for 13 months, he was appointed locomotive engineer in tlie chief mechanical engineer’s office in Wellington, and in 1919 succeeded to the higher office. In that capacity he travelled throughout, the country in the Royal train used during the visit to New Zealand of the Prince of Wales (now the Duke of Windsor). Mr. Gillon was for many years a member of the Wellesley Club. In his younger days he was keen on football, and later on golf. He was a justice of the peace, and was a member of the Wellington North committee of the National Party. Mr. Gillon's brothers were Mr. Or-mond-Gillon, of the Union Steam Ship Company’s service, and Mr. John Gillon, formerly of the Hansard staff. Mrs. Van Slyko was a sister. He leaves a widow arid two sons, Messrs. J. L. Gillon and R. E. Gillon.

Mr. A. S. Leipst

The death ocurred in Hastings on Monday of Mr. Alfred S, Leipst, says a “Dominion” Special Service message. He was well known throughout Hawke’s Bay as a well-sinker, and in the early days of the settlement of the Heretaunga Plains and Hastings he was responsible for sinking many wells that today are still in use. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1864, Mr. Leipst came to New Zealand in IS7B, landing at Napier. For 10 years he was employed with the then well-known firm of Knight Brothers in Hastings. In 1894 he set up business on his own account as a well-sinker. Mr. Leipst was engineer to the Hastings Volunteer Fire Brigade, and later was superintendent. He won many trophies in open competition, and in 1904 was a member of the New Zealand team of fire-fighters that visited Australia. Mr. Leipst was -an active member of tlie Hastings Cage Bird and Poultry Association for many years. He was also a member of the Hastings Central Committee for a loug time and was a prominent member of the Protestant Alliance Lodge, being at one time chairman of the Hastiugs lodge of the order.

Mrs. Leipst predeceased him five weeks ago, and there are left two sons, Messrs. W. Leipst (Hastings) and Leslie Leipst (Wellington), and five daughters, Mesdames E. Goggin (Melbourne) and S. Aitcheson (Melbourne), and Misses M. Leipst (lady superintended; of Cook Hospital, Gisborne) and E. H. Leipst (a sister at Dannevirke Hospital). Mr. S. Baird The death occurred in Wellington on Monday of Mr. Stuart Baird, who was well known in commercial circles in Hastings. Mr. Baird was born in Hawera in 1887, and for some time worked in a bank there. When his father, who was a prominent resident of the Ha wera district, moved to Hastings, his son also moved, and in 1912 he joined the staff of De Pelichet, McLeod and Co., Ltd. He was associated with the firm for 17 years as accountant before his retirement because of ill health. He then lived in Havelock North for a number of years before moving to Wellington. He leaves a widow and a sister, Miss Board, Hastings. Mr. A. W. Leekie The death has occurred iu Whangarei of Mr. Arthur Winning Leckle, aged 82. Mr. Leekie was a son of Colonel W. Leekie, who served for more than 30 years with, the 39tb Regiment of Foot and fought in the Crimean War. During his residence iu Whangarei Mr. Leekie gave a number of medical books to the Whangarei Hospital library with the view of perpetuating the memory of a relative. Midshipman Martra, who sailed with Captain Cook. Mrs. A. E. llefford Mrs. A. E. llefford, wife of the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, and a wellknown figure in Wellington educational and social circles, died on Tuesday at her home in Clark Street, Khandallah. She was 56 years of age. Mrs. Hefford (Amy C-ule) was born and educated in South Wales. She attended tiie University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, at the same time as her husband did, took an honours degree in history, a subject in which she was keenly interested all her life, and entered’ the teaching profession. She retired from it in 1909 to be married. _ Since tier arrival in New Zealand in 1926, Mrs. Hefford took a prominent part in women’s affairs, mainly in education. She worked for many years for 'the Wellington Girls’ College Parents’ Association, holding the office of president of tlie women’s executive., and being secretary of the association for some years. Mrs. Hefford was secretary also of the Wellington Branch of the International Federation of University Women. She was on tlie executive of the National Council of Women, and was a delegate to die last conference of that body. She was a member of the executive of tlie Women’s Food Value League. She was president of tlie Khandallah branch of the Labour Party, and was also concerned with local educational and social associations. In the organization of the Women's Court at tlie Centennial Exhibition, she played a prominent part on several sub-committees, being chairman of tlie science sub-committee. She leaves, beside her husband, four sons and three daughters, all of whom except the youngest son were born In England. The eldest son is serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas. Mrs. Hefford will be greatly missed by a large number of friends and acquaintances, and by the many public bodies in which she was actively Interested,,