MR. GEORGE W. VENABLES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 28, 27 October 1937, Page 6

MR. GEORGE W. VENABLES

J Mr George William Yenables, a wellJ known resident of Napier, wko - kad I spent a, lifetime in the printing trade, I pa-ssed awayf on Monday at tke age of I 73 years. I _ Tke late Mr Venables came to Napier I in 1909 at the age of 45 years and I founded tke firm of G. W. Yenables and I Co., Ltd., which ke managed until kis retirement in 1927. I _Mr Yenables was born in BotkerI kithe, England, in 1864, coming to New I Zealand witk kis father the following I year. He^entered the printing trade as a compositor witk tke Nortk CanterI bury News at tke age of 11 and at tke I end of kis term of apprenticeship ke I was made foreman of the Ashburton I Mail, less tkan six years later. I In 1887 ke went to Australia wkere, I witk a partner, ke founded tke NorthWest Post at Devonport, Tasmania, eventually selling kis share to his partner. Mr Venables later keld several lmportant positions on newspapers in Sydney and Melbourne and spent 12 montks witk tke Government Printing Office in Western Australia. Beturning to New Zealand in 1893 he joined tke staff of tke Government Printing Office, and during kis period tkere ke earned a reputation as a particularly fast compositor.

I In 1902 Mr Venables, witk a partner, I purchased tke Waikato Times. After being in business in Cambridge, WaiI pukurau and Hastings ke went to NaI pier in 1909, wkere ke remained nntil 1927, wken ke retired from the firm he kad built np and settled in HelensI ville tke following year/ taking over j tke Otahuhu Becorder in partnerskip witk kis youngest son. Tkis business j was sold in 1931 wken the family returned to Napier. I Mr Venables took an active part in sport in kis younger days. He was a j Bugby player and played tke Victorian code in Tasmania and Melbourne. He was a first-class oarsman and stroke of tke Yarra champion fours.in 1891. He I was a foundatipn member of the WaiI rere Bowling. Club, of wkick ke was singles champion for 1936 and 1937, and took part in bowls for 40 years, joining the Cambridge Club in 1903. j He joined tke Masonic Lodge in 1905 and was a foundation member of Lodge Napier, of wkick ke was also a past master. I A man of progressive spirit and indefatigable energy, the late Mr Yenables gave faitkful and valuable serviee to tke community in many ways, and he leaves bekind him a fine Tecord 'of eitizenship, and a host of friends. He underwent a serious operation 18 months ago and never fully recovered from its effects altliougk ke maintained his interest in social and business life until quite recently. He married Miss Mary Prancis Abra, Launceston, Tasmania, in 1888. He leaves a widow, three sons and four daugkters, Messrs Y. Venables, | Orewa, Auckland; Hilton Yenables, ! Helensville; Ivo Yenables. Napier; Mis D. Venables, Mrs J. Foster and Miss Mauree Venables, Napier, and Mis3 Nellie Yenables, of Pukehou.

MR EDWARD R. HOULAHAN I Tke death occurred on Monday of Mr Edward Rienzie Houlahan at the Cook Hospital, Gisborne, following a I short illness. Mr Houlahan, who was 40 years of age. had long been in failing health, kis illness being the sequel to war service. Mr Houlahan was born at Dannevirke, wkere he was engaged in pharmacy worlc wken war broke out. He was wounded at the battle of Messines and the second battle of the Somme, and also took part in tb« battle bf 'Passchendale. Ha a& 3"*ivalided back to New Zealand after the Armistice, but before /he was discharged he was forc ed to spend some time in Featherston and Cook Hospitals. In 1919 Mr Houlahan joined tb'j staff of tke Gisborne * Sheepfarmers' Frozen Meat and Mercantile Co.. Ltd. but shortly afterwards he transferred Eo Williams and Kettlo'a staff, with which he had remained until his incap- . acitatioa a ahort while [o.

Of a quiet disposition, but taking a keen interest in all forms oi; sport and social activity, the late Mr Houlahan was widely popular. A Masonic craftsman, he was a member of the Gisborne Lodge under the New Zealand Constitution, and of the Royal Chapter. of Freemasons. The late Mr Houlahan married in 1927 Miss Dorothy Gardiner, Hastings, and h eis eurvived by Mrs Houlahan and their daugbter. They wil' share with kis parents, Mr and Mrs E. Houlahan, Gisborne, anu ' is • tLrce brothers, Messrs Lionel, Owen and Roy Houlahan, also of Gisborne, the deep sympatky of all who had the scquaintance of the deceased. The interment took plnce yester-