OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1924, Page 1

OBITUARY

MR T. H. HAMER. IVSTRALIAN* AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIAh/OP. LONDON, Keb. 13. The death is reported of Mv T. H. Hamer, for many years private secretary to tlie late -Mr R. J. Scddon when Prime Minister of New Zealand. WELLINGTON, Feb. U A large number of people iu New Zealand will learn with regret- ol the death of Mr T. 11. II amor in London. "Tommy' Hamer, as many hundreds of his friends called him, was a man of a very lovable nature, lie became very well known in New Zealand as private secretary to the late Mr Seddou when he was Minister of Works in the Ballance Ministry, and a Iterwards during Mr Seddoit’s long term a- Prime Mini-tor. His association with the Civil Service went back to Hi,- lini,-. "f Sir George Grey. He we- the eldest soil of thebaic Rev Thomas Hamer, Congregational Minister, of Auckland, was horn at Auckland in Is-i-j. and was educated at; Wesley l ~11,-ge. in that city and Mr Karquhar Mcßae's high school. Tn 1872 Mr Hamer entered the service of the Auckland Provincial Government in the Superintendent'? office where lie remained until the abolition of the provinces, lie tiu-u joined the Rank of New Zealand and went to Thames. Two years later he came to Wellington and was appointed clerk iu the Mines Department at ils inception. In 1887, under the Stout.-Vogel Administration. Mr llamei was Aeling-UTider-Scereliiry for Mines, bill on the amalgamation ol Hie department with the Land’s Depart-men I he was appointed chief clerk.

In January, 1891, he became private secretary to the lion Mr Seddon, who was then Minister of Mines, and on the assumption of the Premiership by that gentleman Mr Hamer continued iu the capacity ol his private secretary. In Auckland in hi- young days he was for a long time captain ol the Mnmiknti Cricket Club, and as a member and prize-winner of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club was for many veai-s well known here. After Mr Koddnn’s death Mr Hamer resumed his position as t nder-Secre-'iii'v of Mines and about a year after V. a- transferred to the High Coinmts.jimvr’s Office in London as audit, iusportin', which position be held until about three years ago, when ho retired on account of ill-health. [since his retirement from that oifice Mr I lamer has been associated with eeitit i n business interests in London. He was twice married, and leaves a widow, a son and a daughter.