OBITUARY.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 164, 23 December 1926, Page 5

OBITUARY.

mr. Mari -S p. McDermott. There pa:,. , away at Cambridge on Wednesd the 15th inst., Martin Philip Is, ,ermott, one of the oldest and r. respected residents of Cambriug Deceased was in his 63rd year a, had been a resident of Cambridge r the past 40 years. Born at Am .1, where his father was also bo. ho late Mr. McDermott receiv , ; is education at the Auckland L, iar School. In 1886 he settled .mbridge, and some years later lit irried Miss J. E. McCrea, a me if another old pioneer family. . the past 33 years Mr. McDe'-t had been with the firm of The . Wells, general merchants, in v ■ employ he was at the time of I death. The late Mr. McDermott was a keen "florist • :d in following this hobby he earned more than a local reputation a: . n amateur. He was the founder . original secretary of both the Cr 'dge Rose and Chrysanthemum Sr :ws and did much to assist and p, ote the study of horticulture if- -bout the Waikato. For many ye ; Mr. McDermott had been a mem i r of various Lodges, including the Alpha Masonic Lodge, the Oddfellow and the Savage and Orrffians Club:" He was also a member of the C I abridge Bowling Club and was a lie r supporter and regular attendant football matches. In his early day : lie was a keen cricketer and captain of an Auckland side, while he ployed tennis regularly at Cambridge up to three years ago. A keen musician, he was for a number of years organist at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cambridge, of which church he was also a member. Of a kindly and generous temperament, Mr. McDermott was always ready to lend assistance to any worthy cause and gave great assistance to the local effort to establish a horticultural show. His great pdpularity was testified to by the large concourse wh'oh assembled for the funeral las,t Saturday, 1 mourners coming from all .parts of the North Island.

On the Sunday evening a memorial service was conducted in the Presbyterian Church by Rev. J. Hay, and the church was crowded. The church was decorated with roses, the favourite flower of deceased, and a moving tribute was paid by the preacher, the congregation singing deceased’s favourite hymns.-

At the graveside the service was conducted by Rev. Hay, while a Masonic service was conducted by Wor. Master H. Burge. The pallbearers were members of the Lodge Alpha, Cambridge, and Lodge Tirau. Deceased leaves a widow and three sons, Messrs. Martin and Kenneth McDermott, of Putaruru, and Carl McDermott, of Arapuni, to mourn their loss. REV. T. G. HAMMOND. A well-known Methodist minister, in the person of Rev. T. G. Hammond, passed away at the residence of his son at Lichfield at'l.3o p.m. on Wednesday, the 15th inst. For several years past deceased had lived quietly in retirement, but, despite his great age, on occasion he officiated at religious services in the Putaruru- district. Hale and hearty almost to the end, deceased, however, suffered a slight stroke a short time ago while visiting N orthern Maoris at Whangarei, but he returned quite well and was apparently in his usual good health. However, on the Saturday previous to -his death, deceased had another slight stroke, which was followed by a more severe one on the | Sunday afternoon and from which he .. never regained consciousness. Deceased was in his 81st year and ■ was born at Richmond, in the Nelson district. After leaving school the late Rev. Hammond had 14 years’ business experience before being called to the ministry. As a probationer he was stationed at Rangitikei, New Plymouth and Manawatu. In IS7B he succeeded Rev. William Rowse as missionary to the Ilokianga Maoris. In 1887 he was appointed to Patea, and, three years later, superintendent of the West Coast Mission, which position he held for 27 years, when j he was made General Superintendent of Maori Missions, from which position he retired on becoming a

supernumerary in 1917. The late Rev. Hammond was a true Philo-Misori', sympathetic, devoted and selfsacrificing, and was entrusted by the old Maori chiefs with their ancient; lore. While in Uokianga lie enjoyed the friendship, of many of the old Ngapuhi chiefs, including Taonui, Hori Karaite Tavhiti, Rawari Pikihi, Raniera. Wharerau, Rev. Hori Te and Hone Mohi Tawhia. Deceased was recognised as one of the 1 ioreniost Maori authorities in, the.

country, and was the author of “ The Story of Aotea,” which gives a remarkable insight into the native character and customs, and the origin and antiquity of the Maori race. Deceased was an ex-Grand Chaplain of the Masonic Order. Deceased is survived by his widow, five daughters, Mesdames Fever and Caruth, of Whangarei, Miss Dora Hammond, of Wellington, Miss Myra Hammond, of Taranaki, and Miss Brenda Hammond, of Lichfield, and three sons, Mr. Graham Hammond, of Patea, Mr. Godfrey Hammond, of Gisborne, and Mr. Hanbury Hammond, of Lichfield. FUNERAL SERVICE. The funeral service took place at Putaruru on Thursday in the Methodist Church, when Rev. P. Paris, deputy chairman for the district, delivered an address in which he referred in suitable terms to the wonderful and interesting life of deceased. Rev. F. E. Leadley, of Hamilton East, read the lesson, and Rev. C. M. Roberts, of Te Awamutu, offered up the prayer. At a short service in the house, Revs. R. E. Fordyee (Matamata) 1 and E. E. Sage (Morrinsville) officiated, while at the graveside Revs. C. W. Brown and P. Paris conducted the service, at the conclusion of which the Masonic service was conducted by Rev. E. Ward, chaplain, and Wor. Bro. S. J. Parker, P.M.