OBITUARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 3

OBITUARY

MISS HILDA WILLIAMS SOLDIERS BEFRIENDED At her flat, “Wcstmore,” Gloucester street west, Christchurch, Miss Hilda Temple Williams, 0.8. E., a member of one of the best known families in New Zealand, died a few days ago, after an illness of several weeks. .Miss Williams was a daughter of the late Mr. and. lvirs. 'i. c. Williams, of Wellington, and granddaughter of Archdeacon Henry Williams, who arrived in New Zealand in the Brampton in 18z3, and who settled at Paihia, Bay of Islands. There Miss Williams's father was born in 1825. Later he lived for a time in Auckland and then made his home in Wellington. Miss Williams was born at Lower Hutt and educated at Mrs. Swainson's private school. She went to England in 1913 and after the outbreak of war, she was quick to realise the loneliness and friendlessness of New Zealand soldiers who arrived in London from Gallipoli and Egypt. Her ready sympathy was aroused and was immediately translated into useful action, though she had some difficulty in persuading tiie military authorities of the necessity for the scheme she had evolved She established the first canteen in England for New Zealanders. It was known as “The Dug Oul,” and was situated in Victoria street, London. It was financed entirely by the Williams family. Later she 'established "Te Where Puni.” a popular canteen at Hornchurch, for men from the Dominion. This was stalled by members of her family and their friends. The value of her work was soon recognised and in 1918 the King conferred on her the decoration uf the Order of the British Empire. Miss Williams was also much interested in fitting up limbless soldiers in the earlier years of the war. DR. W. F. CURRIE The death has occurred of Dr. W. F. Currie, Richmond, aged 47 years, after an illness of only a few days, states a Press Association message from Nelson. He was engaged among his patients only last Monday. He was a graduate of the New Zealand University, qualifying in Dunedin in 1916. I-Ie then did war service in the Great War, remaining at Home for several years to further his studies. He took a fellowship at Edinburgh College of Surgeons in 1920, and then returned to New Zealand. For several years he was in practice with Dr. I-lugh Douglas in Hamilton before going to Nelson to take over the Richmond practice of the late Dr. H. O. Washbourn in 1927.

The death is announced by cable from Fortrose, Ross-shire, of Mr. George Arthur, who was an engineer in the service of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company for nearly 50 years. Mr. J. J. O’Brien, whose death is reported from Napier in his fifty, third year, was the father of Mr. Matthew O'Brien, a Poverty Bay representative cricket and Rugby player. The late Mr. O’Brien! was for 20 years a Hawke’s Bay representative cricketer and visited Gisborne on a number of occasions. He was a vice-president of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Association and president of the Hawke’s Bay Cricket Umpires’ Association. Another son, Mr. Jack O’Brien, is also prominent in sporting circles in Hawke’s Bay. Mr. George Henry Curtis Hart, whose death occurred in Greytown on Monday, was born in Wellington on February 18, 1851. His father, who was a printer on the first newspaper published in Wellington, arrived in the Dominion in the early forties. His mother was a Miss Houghton, who before her marriage, was engaged as a light-house keeper on Somes Island. In the early days, the late Mr. Hart carried the mail between Wairoa and Napier. He was also engaged as a bullock-driver on stations in the Pongaroa district and in 3900 took up a property at Haunui, with his son, Mr. G. C. Hart, a returned soldier, who is the only surviving son.