OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1931, Page 5

OBITUARY

LIEUT.-COLONEL AUSTIN. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) . - WELLINGTON, August 31./ The death has occurred at a private hospital here of Lieutenant-Col-onel William Simmons Austin, N.Z.R.8., , at the age of .60 years. He was formerly a West Coast. resident. A fortnight ago, h© underwent an op-! eratiou, coming through it satisfactorily, but he succumbed this afternoon to heart failure. There will be a mill- ’ tary funeral on Thursday' afternoon. Tile deceased was Vice-President of the “Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association. He retired from the service of the i Education Department a little over a year ago, after fortyfour years of service! The earlier part of his career :was spent on the West Coast. 1 Later he became an Inspector. For the last ten years he had been connected with th e Techci- ) cal, branch of • the Department. He served in .the Great War, leaving New Zealand in command of the 2nd Battalion of the N.Z.R.B. Afterwards he was promoted to Lientenant-Uol-onel in command of the First Battalion. He was several, times wounded and once severely. He was mentioned t in despatches twice. He received the Croix de Guerre and : the D.S.O. The late Lieutenant-Colonel Austin was for some years a pupil teacher in the Jhangahua District High School, and later was for segue time Assistant Master ot the Greymbuth State School under the late Mr A. A. Adams. His widow is a member of the Blair family, Being a sister of Mrs D. Tennent and Mr W. Blair, of Gfreyniouth. Mr Stanley Austin, wheelwright, of Reefton, and Mr Richard Austin, who it in charge of the Reefton Electric Light Company’s .Power Station/* are brothers of the deceased’s, who was a native of the Iriangakua district) Mrs J. S. Scantlebury, of Nelson, is a' sister of deceased. Lieutenant-Col-onels Austin was widely known and esteemed on the West-Coast, and as a School Inspector was regarded by the teaching profession as . having been very fair,, and considerate in the discharge of his duties. 1 WELL KNJJWN RACING STARTER. AUCKLAND, . September ,1. ; > Obituary.—-Charles O’Connor, aged 71. He was starter for the Auckland Racing and other Clubs.