Death of Mr 0. Hulke.

Manawatu Herald, 1 November 1898, Page 2

Death of Mr 0. Hulke.

Mr 0. Halke, headmaster of the New town school was found dead yesterday. He lived by himself, and not appearing at the school a vwfc was made to the house where he wfs found in bed, having apparently been dead for some time. He was one of the best known teachers in Wellington. Mr Hulke'a death is supposed to be due to heart disease. Mr Hulke was head teacher for many years at the Foxton School. Mr D. Davidson, of Dona^l McLean street, who was a great friend of the deceased, called thrice at the letter's house on Sunday, bub found the front door looked on each . ocoision. On hearing of the occurrence, Mr Davidson, who is employed in the Railway Deprrtment, went homo and opened a casket which deceased had given him about a fortnight ago. Deceased, in handing it over to Mr Dividaon, told him that it oontin^^ some of his private papers, and m adjured him to look after it. On making ao examination of these

documents Mr Davidson found that one waa Mr Hulke's will, and the other a memorandum which gave a number of directions. On the top of this document is set ouk a list of deceased's liabilities and assets, which shows a balance of Xl 4 2s6d. „,„., " The expenses of my funeral," it prceeds, " should not cost more than £6. I want one of the plainest funerals possible. And mind no one it to follow mi" The last line is underlined* .„ , •'Of course there will be an inquest and Ashcroft need only call Mrs Gordon and Miss Collins to j know my tentiments, which I have freely expressed to them since January last. IhopeMrßary will now be satisfied." # The concluding paragraph is as follows:-" My opera-glasses, presented to me by the children, I wwh to be burled with me." The paper was signed Charles Halke, June 18, 1808. „ tt ,1 v a So fat as it is known Mr Hulke had not been ailing in any way : in fact he frequently boasted the good health he enjoyed. He visited the Education Board offices on Saturday, when be was apparently in the beßt or spirits, one of the clerks remarking he had not seen him in such a jovial mood for some time. Mr h P- huke, chairman fit the School Committee, received a letter yesterday, written by the deceased in which the latter thanked the comntfttee for the kindly considera. tion it bad always shown him, and asking that disposition of certain books should be made to the teachers connected with the school. The Coroner was made acquainted with the circumstances, and ordered a post-mortem examination of the remains to be made. The inquest takes place at the Park Hotel, Newtown, at 11 o'clock this morning. The funeral will take place this afternoon.— N.Z. Times.