NOTABLE DEATH.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1925, Page 4

NOTABLE DEATH.

WELLINGTON’. April 28. The death occurred in Wellington yesterday of George Albert Williams. w|io in the early days wa.i a member of the armed constabulary and who later joined the New Zealand polite force.

Williams was a noted athlete and toured Great Britain with the New Zealand native Rugby team in 1888. lie came to AYellington in tho late seventies and joined the armed constabulary. When the To AYhiti trouble broke out, lie was one of a large force of armed constabulary and volunteers which was sent to Parilmka to quell the rising. AYilliams, being a man of splendid physique, was selected as one of the force sent into the .Maori stronghold to arrest To AA’hiti and also to effect tho arrest of a Afnori murderer "ho had killed a surveyor. The small force was armed with revolvers and expected a desperate resistance, hut fortunately To AA’hiti and the murderer submitted quietly to arrest. After the Afaori disturbance had been quelled at Parilmka, a force of constabulary was left ill the district" to ensure that

the smouldering embers did not break

into flame again. Williams was one of those left behind. AA’bilo here lie acquired a knowledge of the Afaori language and no doubt this led to lii.s being selected as a. member of the New Zealand native Rugby team w!:i ! went to England in 1888. Prior to this, lie had been a member of the Poneke Rugby Football Club and was sikli a fine lonvard tha.t. be had been selected to represent AYVlilngton on •several occasions. Before leaving for England Joe Warbrick, captain of the New Zealand

native Rugby team, broke his leg in

a match at Auckland, and AYilliams was called upon frequently to lead tho team in matches in Great Britain. He po.ssess.scd a thorough knowledge of the Rugby game and upon his return to New Zealand published n handbook upon Rugby, giving interesting particulars of the 1888 tour, AA’illiams was transferred from the armed constabulary to the police force and served on various stations in tho South Island. Prior to his retirement upon superannuation some few years ago, he was stationed at Soddon for some time.

AA illiams attended the farewell banquet to the All Blacks lr.>t year and was one of the guests of the Government at the welcome home of the 192-1 New Zealand Rugby team at Bellamy’s last month. This was the veteran's last public appearance. ,j .

ITe married Afiss Fraser of Invercargill and is survived by bis widow and three sons and a daughter. A man of upright character, AVillia.ms was highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends throughout the Dominion.