OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 4

OBITUARY

Mr. W. R. Jourdain

The death has occurred at his residence, 39 Moxham Avenue,, Wellington, of Mr. William Robert Jourdain, who was born in Leicestershire, England, and came to New Zealand in 1880. After completing his school education in Auckland, he joined the Lands and Survey Department at Napier in 1887, and in 1900 was transferred to the head office of that department, rising to the position of chief clerk, which he occupied from 1912 till his retirement in 1924. After leaving the civil service, Mr. Jourdain practised his profession with the firm of Messrs. Mazengarb, Hay, and Macalister, till his final retirement from professional life in 1938. . t While in the Government service he was secretary of the Scenery Preservation Board and the Tongariro National Park Board. He was also secretary of the Royal Commission on the Timber Industry in 1909. He published the “Digest of Land Laws in/New Zealand” (1924), and a treatise on “Land Legislation and Land Settlement” (1925)." He recently wrote “Reminiscences of a Civil Servant,” by “George.” He also wrote and published poems about various public men, and on contemporary matters. A few years ago his verses were published in book form.

In his younger days he was very interested in cycling, rowing and swimming. He introduced the sport of hockey into Hawke’s Bay. and is credited with haying arranged the first hockey match in New Zealand. In later life he turned his attention to bowling, and for 25 years organized an inter-departmental bowling tournament for civil servants. From small beginnings this tournament became an annual tournament of Dominion-wide importance. Mr. Jourdain also took a great interest in Freemasonry, being a member of Lodge Aorangi No. 2300 (E.C.), and was a founder and past master of Hataitai Lodge No. 285, serving the lodge also as treasurer and as secretary for a long period. For several years he was on the vestry of AU Saints’ Church, - Kilbirnie, and occupied the position of churchwarden. He was also a member of the Hataitai School Committee, Hataitai Bowling Club, Savage Club, Law Society, and various other bodies. He leaves a widow and a family of three daughters, Mesdames Liddon and Matthews and Miss Kate Jourdain. His only son, Richard, died in Athens from wounds received in the battle of Crete. He hnd two sisters. Miss D. Jourdain and Mrs. E. Gillies (Wellington), and two brothers, Messrs. Lionel and G. A. Jourdain (Te Awamutu), all of whom survive him.

Rev. Brother Sigefrid

The death has occurred, at Auckland of Kev. Brother Sigefrid, a member of the Marist Brothers’ Order. On completing his studies at a Marist Novitiate, he was for a time at the Sacred Heart College in Auckland, and over a long period of years he taught in many of the Marist schools throughout the (Dominion, including Napier, Wanganui, Christchurch, and the original Marist school in Wellington, at Bouieott Street. He was a teacher and then director of the Hawkestone Street School in Thorndon for many years, completing in all 21 years of teaching service in Wellington, before being transferred to Sacred Heart College, Auckland, where he was in charge of the woodwork class. He was due to celebrate his golden jubilee of admission to the order next year. A talented teacher and a man of engaging personality, he enjoyed the deep regard and affection of a host of old pupils throughout New Zealand.