WAS AUCKLANDER IN RAILWAY DISASTER?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 396, 3 July 1928, Page 13

WAS AUCKLANDER IN RAILWAY DISASTER?

DARLINGTON SMASH NO SUBSTANTIATION OF RUMOUR Relatives in Auckland of the wife of the Rev. Frank Smith, formerly a well known minister in Auckland, have not heard anything of the connection of Mr. and Mrs. Smith with the recent Darlington railway disaster in England, although such a suggestion has come from Waverley. In cables regarding the smash, it was stated that the vicar of Hetton Le Hole, the Rev. F. Smith, whose wife was still in hospital, conducted a service in connection with the tragedy. A Waverley resident believes that the minister referred to was formerly vicar at Waverley, and subsequently was vicar at Northcote, where he spent several years. The Rev. Mr. Smith is thought by the resident to have been home missionary in the Methodist Church in the Ohinemuri district. Mrs. Smith, he says, was Miss Ruth Vugler, Paeroa, before her marriage and was well known as a capable pianiste throughout Ohinemuri, Te Aroha ar.d Thames before leaving for England several years ago. Mr. J. Vugler, school teacher, of Auckland, is the brother of the Mrs. Smith mentioned by the Waverley resident. From inquiries made to-day nothing has been found to substantiate the belief that the Mrs. Smith who was injured in the smash was formerly known here. A Rev. Arthur Frank Smith was educated at St. John’s College, Auckland, in 1897. He was ordained deacon in 1899 and priest in 1901. For two years from 1899 he was curate at Remuera and was vicar of Waitotara, near Waverley, from 1901 to 1902. For the next two years he was priest-in-charge at Fitzroy, New Plymouth, and from 1904 to 1911 was vicar of Northcote and Takapuna. The Rev. Mr. Smith went to England and was curate of Lytham from 1912 to 1914. For the next three years he was vicar of St. Thomas’s, Oldham, his last station recorded in this city being his appointment as rector of St. Bride's, Old Trafford, Manchester, in 1917.