OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. A. H. WRIGHT

FORMER COMMISSIONER OF ,POUCE .

The death occurred suddenly yesterday afternoon of Mr. Arthur Hobbins Wright, a former Commissioner of Police, at his home on the Marine I Parade, Seatoun, Mr; Wright was 76 years ■of age, and had been living in retirement Since 1925.

It was at the beginning of 1922 that Mr. Wright was appointed Commissioner of Police, in succession to Mr. John O'Donovan, who had just retired from the service. Mr. Wright had then been a member of the Police Force for 39 years. He was a native of Gloucester, England, and was born on April 8,1861. Coming to New Zealand when quite a young man, he enlisted as a constable at Invercargill in August, 1882. In November, • 1883, he became a member of the clerical stall of the Invercargill office, and remained there until 1891, when he was transferred to Dunedin, still on the recording side of the service. In March, 1893, he was made a first-class constable, and appointed district clerk in the inspector's office at Wellington. He gamed his sergeant's stripes in January, 1893, and in 1905 he received a position in the office' of the Commissioner, of Police. Commissioned rank' came to him in .January, 1906, with the status of subi inspector, and ' the chief clerkship of I the Department. ' His service at head office continued until March, 1911, when j he,became an inspector, and was placed1 iri charge of the Thames district. Hamilton, was made the administrative centre of his .district in February, 1913, and Inspector Wright stayed there until November, 1915, when he reached the grade of superintendent, and was transferred to Dunedin. From September, 1919, to January, 1922, he was in charge of the Auckland district, and he was then appointed Commissioner. He retired on reaching the age limit in 1925,

Shortly after his retirement, Mr. Wright's health became affected, but he maintained an active interest in the Seatoun Bowling Club, of which he was a prominent member,'and twicq visited his two sisters in England, the first trip occupying from June, 1926, to the end of 1927, and the second from 1932 to 1936. :

.Mr. Wright is survived by his "wife and two sisters, five sons, Messrs. J. H; Wright (Miramar), P. J:' Wright (Seatoun), W. H. Wright (Cambridge), T. W. Wright (Faparoa), and E. W. Wright (Te Aroha), and four daughters, McV dames A. Hood (Blenheim), J. B. Adams (Seatoun), E. Evans (Seatoun), and R. Sterling (Matakohe).

The funeral will leave the residence on the Marine Parade at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow for the Karori Cemetery. The Rev; C. E. Willis will officiate at a service at the house and at the cemetery.