DEATH OF MR WILLIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 430, 29 August 1908, Page 3

DEATH OF MR WILLIS.

Passes Away at Gisborne.

Gisbornk, August 27. Mr A. D. Willis, ex-M.H.R. for Wanganui, died this afternoon. He was seized with illness on board the steamer Mouowai on the voyage from Auckland about eleven days ago and.was conveyed to a private hospital in Gisborne. His condition was very critical for several days, but he gradually improved and two days ago was thought to be out of danger. His strength, however, failed and yesterday afternoon his condition again became such as to cause his family great anxiety. He gradually sank and passed away peacefully at about 3.40 this afternoon. Mrs Willis and two sous, arrived from Wanganui last week.

The late Mr Willis was born in Middlesex in 1842, and came to New Zealand in his early youth. He worked as a printer in various parts of the colony, spent some time on the Otago goldfields, and afterwards started a paper in Wanganui. For some time he was in partnership with John Balance in the ownership of the Wanganui Herald. He was a member of the Wanganui Borough Council and Harbour Board for some years, and represented the district in Parliament from 1893 to 1896 and from 1899 to 1905. Deceased leaves a family of four daughters and six sons. Mrs W. Labbert, of Feilding, is a sister-in-law. The deceased gentlemen will be privately interred, at his own wish.