MR J. OAKLEY BROWNE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1929, Page 1

MR J. OAKLEY BROWNE

WELLINGTON, October 26. The death occurrecd last night in the Wellington Hospital oT Mr James Oakley Browne, in his seventy-eighth year. The late Mr Browne, formerly a well-known journalist, was born in Geelong in 1852, 'and came over to' New Zealand from Australia in the early 60’s to the gold diggings ,in Otago. 'Shortly afterwards lie took up the journalistic life, and in the course of that work during fifty years he was on staff of many papers from Invercargill to Whangarei. He was one of the earliest workers on the “Evening Post” under Mr E. 'T. Gill on and also was m the “New Zealand Times” under Mr Loughnan. For some time he had charge of the “Boss Advocate” and he was proprietor of a'paper in Whangarei. He was twice married, and by his, first wife had several children, of whom the survivor is Mr Howard Oakley Browne, of Auckland. Surviving daughters are:—Mrs A. Whitaker, of Auckland, Mrs J. Fletcher, of , Sydney, nnd Miss Jessica Oakley Browne of Sydney. He had no children by his second wife, who is a,sister of Mr H E Nicholls, of the Wellington Harbour Board. Mr Oakley Browne was a man of strong and independent character, and was widely respected by those who knew, him, but did not interest himself outside liis profession.