OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 56

OBITUARY.

The New Zealand Shipping Company has received news from London of the death on May 24 of Captain Francis Forbes. Captain Forbes was for over 20 years in command of several of the company’s passenger liners, and during this period, which extended from 1893 to 1914, he became one of the most popular commanders with the New Zealand travelling public. Owing to illhealth, the late Captain Forbes was compelled to relinquish active service in 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the war. During his career he had command of the Kaikoura, Papanui, Turakina, Ruapehu, and Ruahine, all of which were regularly engaged in the New Zealand-London passenger service. The death occurred on May 25 at a Dunedin nursing home of Mrs Catherine Wood at the age of 82 years. Mrs Wood was born at Crailing, Roxburghshire, Scotland, and she came to New Zealand in 1875 to be married to Mr William Wood, who had come out two years previously and had set up a business as a baker. The well-known bakery business and private hotel in Rattray street were established by Mr Wood, and, after his death in 1909, the business was carried on bv Mrs Wood with the assistance of her son William. Mrs Wood was a prominent member of Knox Church congregation for many years, and later she belonged to First Church. She is survived by her daughter, Mrs M. H. Priest, of Dunedin, her son having died seven years ago. One of the oldest residents of Auckland, Mrs Maria Hill, died on May 24 at the age of 98. She was the widow of Mr Ernest R. Hill and had resided almost continuously in Auckland district since her arrival at the age of nine. Her maiden name was Rose, and she was born in Yorkshire. Mrs Hill came to Aucklana with her parents in the barque Westminster, which arrived on April 1, 1843. In 1852, in the High Street Chapel, now the Lands Registry Office, Miss Rose was married by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, uncle to the Rev. Lionel Fletcher. Mr Hill was a son of the original owner of the land at Hillsboro’ (named after him), and there they lived for a number of years, Mr Hill being a farmer. In 1861 she and her husband went to Dunedin, being attracted by the discovery of gold, but two years later returned to Auckland, where Mrs Hill had lived ever since.

The death of Mrs Christina Millar took place at her residence, Roslyn, on Thursday. She was a daughter of the late Mr Alexander Stewart Blair Drummond. Stirling, Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1867, arriving at Port Chalmers in the Vicksburg. She remained for a year in Dunedin, and then went to Oamaru, where she subsequently married Mr P. Millar, one of the early settlers of North Otago, who died many years ago. After remaining for 44 years in the Oamaru district Mrs Millar returned to Dunedin, where she had resided ever since. She was a member of the Early Settlers’ Association, and regularly attended the annual gathering of the old identities. She had reached an advanced age, and was practically free from illness until she developed apoplexy, which resulted in her death in a few weeks’ time. The deceased had a very benevolent disposition, and was loved by all who knew her. Her many friends will remember the kindly welcome they invariably received at her home.

The death occurred in Hamilton of Mr William Inglis Conradi, at the age of 74 years. Mr Conradi was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was the second son of Captain C. G. Conradi. He was educated in London and Edinburgh and went to sea on leaving school. Three years later he came to Dunedin. Mr Conradi was in the Rock and Pillar district, trying his fortunes on the goldfields for two or three years. From 1876 to 1891 he lived at Clinton, where he inaugurated the town board and acted as secretary for nine years. He was also secretary and treasurer to the Clinton Jockey Club. In 1891 he went to the North Island and was appointed clerk, treasurer and engineer to the Raglan County Council at Raglan. About 24 years ago Mr Conradi was appointed town clerk at Hamilton and secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board. With the growth of the hospital district, Mr Conradi relinquished the town clerkship and continued as secretary of the Hospital Board, a position he held for 20 years until four years ago, when he retired on superannuation. He leaves a widow, four sons and four daughters.

There passed away last week in the person of Mr William Paris a well-known citizen and business man of Dunqdin. Born in 1855 in Farnham, England, he migrated in his teens to Canada, where in the north-west he spent several years farming. Seeking a more genial climate he came to New Zealand, landing at Port .Chalmers in 1877, and obtained his first work sowing grass seed on Mr Johnny Jones’s Mount Royal Station at Waikouaiti. Two years later he began business on his own account in George street, and continued there for over 30 years, except for a few years snent on his farm at Kuri Bush, near Taieri Mouth. In his younger days he was well known in Dunedin sporting circles, excelling particularly in boxing and rowing. For over 50 years he was a member of the Hand and Heart Oddfellows’ Lodge here. Mr

Paris belonged to the Methodist Central Mission, where he filled various offices during the past’36 years. The Revs. H. E. Bellhouse and L. B. Neale conducted the obsequies at the home and the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery; and references to the deceased were made in several churches on Sunday. The deceased ’s survived by his widow and three sons —the Rev. Percy Paris and Mr Stanley G. Paris of this city, and Mr Claude O. Paris, of Melbourne. A well-known and highly-respected citizen of Invercargill, Mr Christian Lange, passed away on May 22 at the age of 67 years. The deceased was born in 1863 at Munro’s Gully, near Lawrence, where his father was the only storekeeper and baker in the days of the gold rush to those parts. Mr Lange helped his father in the business there and those days of feverish excitement were so vividly impressed upon his memory that he was provided with a rich store of material for recounting in later years. Those were the days when flour cost 2s 6d a pannikin and when supplies had to be brought from Dunedin by bullock wagons. Later the deceased accompanied his parents to Clinton, where his father, the late Mr Frederick Lange, commenced business as a baker, butcher, and general merchant. The deceased was very musically inclined, and his talent in this direction was developed under a clever master. Mr Lange also enjoyed many hours spent in fishing, and his success in this direction earned him the bestowal of the name of “ Isaak Walton the Second ” by his townfolk. After following fanning pursuits for a few years he purchased a bakery business at Pukerau. He prospered in this new sphere, and after 10 years he purchased a bakery at Clifton (South Invercargill). Mr Lange married a daughter of the late Mr Robert Stewart, of Avenal, 42 years ago, and she predeceased him in 1923. There are three sons and four daughters. Major IL J. Redmond, M.8.E., N.Z.S.C., of Stanley Bay, Auckland, who died on May 20 at the age of 56 years, was born in Wellington, his father, Mr T. P. Redmond, being one of the oldest settlers there. Major Redmond was in the Land and Income Tax Department, Wellington, and he was actively associated with the Volunteer movement, being colour sergeant in the Civil Service Rifles. In 1902 he was appointed staff sergeant major in the Defence Department, and for the next 10 years was stationed at Nelson, where he was promoted to lieutenant and then transferred to Oamaru. He was there promoted to captain in charge of the 10th regimental district, North Otago. In 1918 Major Redmond was transferred to Dunedin, and in 1920 to Auckland, being promoted to major in 1930. He retired in 1930. Major Redmond was one of the leading members of the Auckland Military Sports Association, a member of the committee of the Auckland Rugby Union, and at the time of his death was president of the North Shore Rugby Football Club. He was a leading member of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society and gave valuable assistance as producer to the university students and other amateur societies. Major Redmond was awarded the M.B.E. for services during the Gr.eat War. He also had the honour of being the first man in the Dominion to be awarded the Stead gold medal by the Royal Humane Society. This award, the highest in the gift of the society, was made in recognition of Major Redmond saving the lives of four persons in 1966 in a coach accident in the flooded Collins River, between Blenheim and Nelson. The death occurred on May 20 in a private hospital in Wanganui of Mr Henry Ernest -Kempthorne, for many years a prominent official of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Ltd. Mr Kempthorne was a son of the late Mr Frederick Kempthorne, at one time a well-known officer in the Customs Department, Wellington, and was born in Wellington 64 years ago. For about 40 years he was associated with • the insurance business, having started bis career in the office of the Victoria Coinpany in Dunedin. In 1891 he entered the service of the New Zealand Insurance Company in Auckland, where he remained for several years prior to his appointment as manager of the company’s branch office in Shanghai. After being in China only a few months he was transferred, on promotion, in 1896, to a similar position in Calcutta, returning to New Zealand 11 years later to take charge of the Wellington branch. When the company decided to commence operations in the eastern States of America, in 1918, Mr Kempthorne was appointed manager of the office in New York, which position he held until his reti’-ement in July, 1922. He then made his home at Weybridge, England. He returned to New Zealand a few years ago to attend to private business affairs and his stay had been prolonged by a severe illness. Mr Kempthorne is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Devereux, three sons and two daughters. All reside in England with the exception of the eldest son, Mr Edward Kempthorne, who is fanning in the Wanganui district. IRISH RUGBY PLAYER. LONDON, May 25. The death is announced of W. F. Browne, the Irish Rugby international. MR T. LOWTH, M.P. LONDON, May 26. The death is -announced of Mr T. Lowth, Labour member for the Ardwick division of Manchester since 1922.

Mr Lowth is the eighth member of the House of Commons to die this year. PROMINENT RAILWAYMEN’S UNION OFFICIAL. RUGBY, May 26. The death of Mr Lowth, who was a well-known Railwaymen’s Union official, aged 73, will necessitate a by-election, for the Ardwick division of Manchester. Mr Lowth at the last election polled. 20,000 votes against 13,000 by the Conservative woman candidate. ARCHDEACON BOYCE. SYDNEY, May 27. The death is announced of Archdeacon Boyce; aged 87. He was one of the most livable figures in the religious and social life of Australia. He retired last year from the incumbency of St. Paul’s Church of England, at Redfern, and went to live at Blackheath, on the Blue Mountains. He was the leader of the temperance movement, a pioneer advocate of old age pensions, and an ardent patriot. His work among the poor is a household word. His son, Mr F. S. Boyce, K.C., is a former State Attorney-general.