SUDDEN DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1929, Page 3

SUDDEN DEATH

5 AUCKLAND; Nov. 20. A tragic incident occurred on the eorfitaerpe train ton/ this morning wlifen Mr W. M. Passmore, of Auckland j jjnanager- of Donaghy’s Rope Works;;Chad a .sudden seizure in a motor-car and died- before reaching Kaikohe, five minutes later. The train is conveying a large party of Business men oil a tour of the province. The party had been motored by townspeople to the Ngawha mineral

springs four miles out. While returning to the cars, Mr Passmore was conversing brightly and appeared to he*"'as well as any member of the party. Re-entering the motor-car he sat beside • the driver. The car had only gone- a mile when Mr Passmore had a seizure. The car was speeded to town and first aid was applied by Sergeant Walfendale. No doctors were available, thus illustrating the disabilities of country settlers. The nearest medicab man, Dr Martin, of OkaiJiaUs ten miles away, was called hv telephone and he arrived later. Mr Passmore arrived from Scotland in 1873, and started rope and twine woi'ks at Burnside, This was later destroyed by fire, and the firm joined .' up with Ronaghy’s Rope and Twine Ltd., of which Mr Passmore had been manager at Auckland for over a cpiarter of a century. He was a member of the Remuera Bowling Club. He is survived by Mrs Passmore and three childrent