OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 224, 19 June 1944, Page 4

OBITUARY

Mr. A. E. Mabin A well-known Wellington citizen MrArthur Emerson Mabin. died day night in a Private hospital. lie i was in his 77th year. M'; M abl T “ Ind director of Levin and Co.. Ltd., ana for many years the head ot its wool and flax department. .. Mr. Mabin. who was the son ot Mr. J. R. Mabin, was born in Nelson in 1867, and was educated there at Bishop s School and Nelson College. He began his career in the ornce ot A. a Scaife. Nelson, in 1880. and RD there o join the Staff of Levin and Ltd.. Mel lin”-ton eight years later. His pi ogress in *tliat employ was steady, and early in the centurv he became the manager of its wool and hemp department and its auctioneer. He became a director of the company in 1931 and later jnanaging director, from which position he retired only four or five years ago.

He was also a director, and later chairman of directors, of Sharland and U.. was a director of the Wellington Meat Export Company, and the Wellington Woollen Company, succeeding to the chairmanship of the last-named company upon the death of Mr. W. H. P. Barber last year A lover of the open air, he was for vears a keen golfer and was president of the Miramar Golf Club for over 20 vears, being succeeded Inst year bv Mr. C. M. Bowden, M.P. Mr. Mabin was a life member of the club. He was also a governor of Marsden School, Karon. For eight years' he was president or the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association, and after the last war he represented the Government in wool negotiations. Immediately before that war he was president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, of which body he was a life member. Again in connexion with wool, he was a member of the New Zealand Wool Commission from 1921 to 1926, and l also a member of the Producers’ Commission in the years succeeding the last "llis allegiance to hemp, through its varying fortunes, was manifested by the interest he took in the development of the industry in the Makerua swamp country in the Manawatu. He became managing director of the Tokomaru Flaxmill Company and also chairman of directors of Whitaunui, Ltd. Mr. Mabin was elected a director of the Bank of New Zealand some four years ago. and was still a member of the board at his death. The possessor of a serviceable baritone voice. Mr. Mabin as a young man was a member of St. Peter’s Church Choir. He was a member of th.e original Wellington Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, and played important parts in “The Sorcerer,” “lolanthe,” “The Yeoman of the Guard” and “Ruddigore” (its first performance south of the line). He was also a member of the Wellesley Club, the old Wellington Liedortafel mid the Wellington Musical Society, under the late Mr. Robert Parker. Mr. Mabin loaves a widow (nee Miss Alice Ellen Little); two sons. Mr. Eric Mabin, farmer. Palmerston North, and Mr. Maurice P. Mabin. Karaim Bay, Wellington, and one daughter, Mrs. Vida Williamson. Mr. A. G. Bignell The death occurred in Wanganui' yesterday of Mr. A. G. Bignell, aged 83 years. Mr. Bignell was born in Essex, England, and came to New Zealand when 15 years of age, residing for a time on the West Coast of the South Island. Later, he became one of the partners in the firm of Russell and Bignell, contractors. He first undertook public body work 45 years ago when he joined the Wanganui Licensing Bench, serving continuously till his retirement last year. Among positions lie held at various times were: Mayor of Wanganui, chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, ('hairman of tile Wanganui Collegiate School board of trustees, and chairman of the Racecourse Reserve Trust. He was ;ilso a member of the Wanganui Hospital Board. the Wanganui-linngi-likei Power Board, lire Wangantii-Wai-totarn Patriotic Committee, the Gonvillc Town Board before if was amalgamated with tile city, and the executive of the Harbour Boards Association of New Zealand. Mr. H. V. Hudson Tile sudden deatli occurred at his residence, Trafalgar Street, Levin, last week of Mr. Herbert Victor Hudson, editormanager of tlie “Levin Daily Chronicle.” Born in Nelson in 1879, the late Mr. Hudson was apprenticed to the printing trade. lie served on several newspapers, chief of which were the “New Zealand Times.” Wellington, the “Times.” Masterton, the Mnnawatn “Evening Standard,”'and tlie Manawatu “Daily Times,” with which latter paper he was circulation manager for nine years. He entered camp during the lust war mid was in training at Awapnni al. the cessation of hoslilitics. On discharge from military duties. Mr. Hudson took up farming in tin- Dlaiiaw.nl u district, subsequently returning to lhe newspaper business aS manager of the “Shannon News.” On lhe dentil of Mr. H. <l. Kershiko in 1931. lie was appointed editor-manager of the “Levin Dailv Chronicle.” which position he held Io tile lime of his death.

lie (ook a keen interest in till matters pertaining to the welfare of the Levin community. Me was an active E.B.S. warden and also rendered valuable service to flie Levin A.N.A. Forces Club. He was a member of the Levin Bowling Chib, the Foresters’ Lodge (Masterton), and for a term served ns a member of the Levin School Committee. Mr. Hudson married Miss M.-iv Cave, daughter of tile late Mr. and Mrs. I‘. Cave, Carterton. in 11)02, and is survived bv his wife, two sons, D’Arcy (R.N.Z.A.F.L and lari. Levin, and one daughter, Miss -lill Hudson, Wellington.