OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 263, 5 August 1942, Page 6

OBITUARY

Mr. John Campbell

The- death occurred in Wellington yesterday of the first New Zealand Government architect, Mr. John Campbell. He was born in Glasgow in 1857, and studied architecture there before coming to New Zealand in 1882. In the following year he was appointed a temporary clerk in the Public Works Department in Dunedin, and in 1890 became a draughtsman in the building section of the department in Wellington. In 1892 he was appointed the department's architectural designer, and when in 1597 it was decided to have an official Government architect, Mr. Campbell was the first man to hold that office, from which he retired in 1922. In 1901 he was sent abroad by the Government to study the latest developments in building design. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architecture in 1905. Mr. Campbell was the designer of many public buildings throughout New Zealand. Some of the best-known of his works are Parliament Buildings, the portion of the Wellington I’ost Office fronting Featherston Street, the Customs building near the Wellington Ferry Wharf, the Auckland Post Office, anil the Dunedin law courts, which is a line example of Gothic architecture. He was keenly interested in the sea, aild at one time owned a yacht in Wellington. In his youth be took a trip in a sailing ship to South America. On his retirement he travelled extensively, visiting most of the countries of the world. He gave much help in the founding of the first Architectural Students’ Association in Wellington, and for many years lie was a member of the board of management of St. John's Church. Rev. Bro. Fidelis The Rev. Bro, Fidelis, a well-known member of the Marist Brothers, died ill the novitiate, Tiinaru. on July -u. Brother Fidelis joined the order in 189 <, and was particularly well known m Wellington and Auckland, where he taught for many years. He was respected for the interest he took in ecclesiastical music, having been a member of the Church Music Commission in the diocese of Wellington.