OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 8

OBITUARY

GUNNER T. L. KENNEDY Gunner Thomas Leonard Kennedy, whose death on active service was ar.pounced on Friday, was born at Sutton 28 years ago, and was educated at the Sutton School. He was employed as a shepherd in the Middlemarch and Kurow districts, and was later engaged in the work of erecting the power lines which were to carry the electric power to Southland. He enlisted from Wyndham. He left New Zealand with the first echelon, being married shortly before his departure. The message from the Minister of Defence stated that Gunner Kennedy had died at Abbassia and had been buried with military honours. His mother received a letter a fortnight ago from him, stating that he was in the best of health. MR C. E. BREMNER (Special to Dailv Times) WAIMATE, Feb. 17. Mr C. E. Bremner, A.M.1.C.E., whose death occurred at Lower Hutt last week,' was a very well-known figure in South Canterbury since the beginning of the present century, having been engineer to the Waimate County Council and the Geraldine County Council successively, retiring from the fatter position in 1937 to reside at Lower Hutt. . Mr Bremner, who was bom in England, received his early training aboard ships, circling the world before settling down to civil engineering. He arrived in New Zealand about 1870, and was married in 1875, his fiancee, Miss Constance Hamilton, coming out from England. In 1900 he occupied the position of engineer to the County of Wairarapa North, and was appointed engineer to the Waimate County Council in May of that year, being the first engineer appointed by the council, which, when the merger occurred with the old Road Board in 1877, took over the board’s engineer, Mr N. Hillary. A county overseer, Mr W. J. Black, succeeded Mr Hillary in the charge of council works, and he was in turn followed by Mr Bremner as_ engineer. Mr Bremner soon established his ability as an engineer, and later became recognised in South Canterbury as an authority upon river protection work, the method of devising stop banks protected by willows having, it is said, been carried out in Waimate County for the first time in New Zealand only a few years before Mr Bremner became engineer. On one occasion, when engineer to the Geraldine County, for which position he left Waimate in May, 1920, the Opihi River burst its banks, cutting on all traffic, and in 24 hours Mr Bremner had constructed a temporary roadway. Mr Bremner was a staunch member of the Anglican Church, and was always active in the cause of charity, though he preferred to keep In the background. He was predeceased by his wife in 1937, and he is survived by one son.

MR T. R. LAWSON (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Fob. 18. The death occurred to-day of Thomas Ridley Lawson, a well-known member of the Wellington Stock Excnange. He was the eldest son of the late Nicholas Lawson, at one time manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company. He was born at Low Fell, Durham, England, in 1874, and came to New Zealand at an early age with his parents and two younger brothers. The family lived in Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch and Auckland, and then went to Brisbane. Mr Lawson was educated at the Brisbane Grammar School, and joined the New Zealand Insurance Company at Wellington in 1892. Later he was attorney for the Australian Albion Insurance Company. About 10 years ago he joined the Wellington Stock Exchange in partnership with the late Mr A. M. Adams. After Mr Adams’s death some years ago he entered into partnership with Mr S, J. Sawell. Mr Lawson was chairman of the Wellington Stock Exchange for a term, and vice-president of the Miramar Golf Club. He leaves a widow, one son— Second-lieutenant Athol Lawson, who is overseas with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force —one daughter—Mrs Wilfred Airey—three brothers—Messrs Will Lawson, Sydney John Lawson and Marton Eric Lawson (Wellington—ana two grandchildren. Mrs Lawson was formerly Miss Kathleen Blundell, daughter of the late Mr John Blundell. of Wellington. MR K. DELACEY CUDMORE SYDNEY, Feb 18. (Received Feb. 19, at 10 p.m.) The death occurred suddenly yesterday of Mr K. Delacey Cudmore, joint manager of Goldsbrough, Mort, and Co., Ltd. MR ROBERT SMILLIE LONDON, Feb. 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) The death has occurred of Mr Robert Smillie, president of the Scottish Miners’ Federation for 43 years and Labour member of the House of Commons for Morpeth from 1923 to 1929. He was also president of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain from 1919 to 1921. In 1924 he published the book, “ My Life for Labour.” THE MARQUESS OF HERTFORD LONDON, Feb. 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) The death has occurred of the Marquess of Hertford at the age of 69 years. He incurred a reprimand from Queen Victoria when he won the title of the dancing earl after appearing in a skirt at a dance in Hobart. M. LOUIS VALCKE A NOTED EXPLORER BRUSSELS. Feb. 16. (Received Feb. 17, at 6 p.m.) The death has occurred of Louis Valcke. H, M. Stanley’s principal collaborator in the first Congo expedition which was notable for the crossing of the Crystal Mountains and the navigation of the Congo cataracts