DUTY NOBLY DONE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 485, 27 June 1919, Page 4

DUTY NOBLY DONE.

Referring to the death of the late Mr P. J. McGovern, son of Mrs McGovem, of Pukekohe, the " New Zealand Railway Officers' Advocate," of May Ist, 1919, says: "There has just passed away one of the most popular officers of the New Zealand Railway Service. Mr P. J. McGovern is the officer referred to. He succumbed to an operation which was : performed on April 2nd, at the Weilington Public Hospital. The illness was of short duration, and the opera-. tion was apparently successful, but, he suffered a relapse, and passed away at 8.30 p.m. on Tuesday, April Bth. Ihe late Mr McGovern was] born on July 22nd 18b0. He joined ] the railway service as a cadet, in Auckland in 1896, and was attached to the General Manger's office since 1901. He was a capable and painstaking officer, and was entrusted by the management with the control of railwaymen's enlistments during the recent war —a somewhat onerous and arduous duty. He was of a sociable nature, and made many friends. In outdoor life, the late Mr McGovern was attached to many institutions. H-) was a life vice-president of the Catholic Club, of which he was a founder. He was a prominent debater of that club, and was successful in helping to win the Debating Society's Union shield for oratory and debate. He has appeared in several public competitions also, with distinguished success. The Federated Catholic Clubs of New Zealand had in him an energetic worker as Secretary for many years. Upon the formation of the Orphans' Club, the late Mr McGovem was a prominent committeeman. He was on the executive of the Railway National Reserve, and was also a member of the Railway Miniature Rifle Club. In outdoor sports of all kinds he took a very keen interest. While lacrosse was very popular in New Zealand the late " Terry " was a prominent official, and did much to foster interproviocial competitions. He was recently elected a Vice-Presi-dent of the Marist Old .Boys' Football Club. Other brothers are—Messrs Frank McGovern, of the District Engineer's office, Wellington; and Cecil McGovern of the Land and Income Tax Department Deceased (P. J. McGovern) was married about five years ago, and he leaves a sorrowing wife, who was the daughter of Mr and Mrs McKeegan, of Bona Bay, Wellington. The funeral left the Basilica on April 10th, at 2.30 p.m., and was well attended by the staff and by personal friends of the deceased. The pall-bearers were—Messrs W. S. Riddler, J. E. Widdop, J. Wilson, and F. G. Craig. Private Lawrence Thomas McGovern, enlisted with the Australian Forces, and is serving in Palestine as a member of the wireless section of the Flying Division. The above record discloses the fact that this well-known and highly respected family of Pukekohe has done and is doing its duty to New Zealand and the Empire.