OBITUARY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1933, Page 4

OBITUARY

The death occurred in the North 'lsland this week, of Mr William Baxter, sawmillov, of Waikanae. Mr Baxter was the last surviving member of the fifim of- Baxter Bros., (Jamps, Thomas and William), one -of the •earliest sawmilling firms on the West Coast, which commenced business on the Otira line, about) 1892. The late Mr Baxter who in his boyhood days resided at Hokitika, lived for years at Arahura, when his firm had their sawmill jn, the Arahura vailey, left the West Coast in 1917, was 65 years of age, and ri.s survived by his widow and family. ■ r The death occurred yesterday morning at the residence of his daughter, Mrs Franks, Kotuku, of John. Calling an, a pioneer resident of the West Coast, aged 92 years. The deceased, who resided for many years in ' the Brunner district, leaves a family of three daughters, Mrs Findlay and Mrs Franks (Kotuku), Mrs Carroll (Bell Hill), and two sons, Thomas (Wellington) and John (Christchurch). -■ The death occurred, last evening at the Grey Hospital of Mr Thomas-' Baxter, of Stillwater, • at the age of 39 years. .The deceased, who was the eldest son of Mrs Baxter, • Petris Avenue, Gry6hioutHji.‘ahd ;of the : late Thomas Baxter, whs a native of Hoki tika. He had been Tailing for three months past, prior to which he was engaged as ' electric' winch driver ; at ‘ tho Wallsendrimhie, and was a member of the Brunner. Band. Besides his mother he leaves! i three sisters (Mes- * .dames F. Giffney, of R. Leitch, of Teremakau, and' Miss Josephine Baxter of* Greymouth) and five brothers (Ernest, of Awatuna; and Frank, Leslie, Victor' and Morgan, of Greymouth). Deceased was a nephew of Mr W.. Baxter, whose death is also recorded to-day.

SIR A. GRAY. WELLINGTON, April 28. The sudden death took place today of Sir Alexander Gray, K.C., President of the ■ Law Society. He was educated at Wellington College, and was admitted to ”■ the Bar ; in 1881. He practised at Greytown until'lßß6, when he removed to Wellihg•ton. He was made a King’s Counsel in 1912. The Wellington Magistrate’s Court adjourned for a quarter of an hour in respect •to Sir (A; Gray. Messrs Page, ‘ Hewitt and McNeil were on the Bench. Mr Page,' in moving the adjournment 1 ,! referred to Sir A. Gray as one of the most noted advocates of his day. ’ TAURANGA April 29. The death is recorded of'-.Mr Charles Green Ogilvie, ‘formerly man* ager of the Union Bank of ■ • Australia, Christchurch, ‘ : and late chief inspector in Wellington, After ’ /retiring about a year igorlib' went te live in Tauvanga. He is survived by a wife, five daughters and one eon. One. daughter is a missionary in Canton. SIR GEOFFREY SALMOND. (British Ofjic’il Wireless.) RUGBY, April 28. The death of Sir Geoffrey Salmond (chief of the British Air Staff) is recorded at the age of fifty-four years. He had been gravely ill for the last few weeks. He succeeded big younger brother, Sir John Salmond as chief of the Air Staff on April Ist., hut three days later it was announced that owing to his serious illness, Sir John Salmond would temporarily resume those duties. Sir Geoffrey Salmond’s career was one of great distinction. He originally entered the Royal Artillery, and served .at j the South African war, including the? siege of Ladysmith, and also in China, but lie ' took a pilot’s certificate On January ‘1931, a, few months afterriiis younger brother, and transferred to the Flying Corps. During the war he served on the western front, hut he later commanded the British Air Forces in the Middle East. From 1931 until he succeeded his brother, he was Commander in Chief of the British Air Defences.