MAORI WAR VETERAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 6

MAORI WAR VETERAN

DEATH OF MR W. H. CROSS FORMER AUCKLAND ARCHITECT A Maori War veteran and picneer settler of the Wellington district, Mr. William Henry Cross, of 43 Haslett Street, Eden Terrace, died yesterday at the age of 89. A native of London, Mr. Cross completed his studies there as an architect and draughtsman, before emigrating to New Zealand in the ship Elvellyn in 1863. During the next six years he worked in Wellington, during which he married Miss Louisa J. Dukes. Then came the outbreak of hostilities with the Maoris, and, joining up with the militia, Mr. Cross participated in engagements at Pirongia and Whatawhata and other places. He escaped unscathed, but illness overtook him, and, until the close of the war, he was in hospital convalescing. Mr. Cross went to Thames with the goldfields rush, and employed his talents in architectural and building work. Forty-seven years ago Mr. Cross settled in Auckland, where his first engagement was draughtsman for the Education Board, and he was also entrusted with, the selection of sites for schools. He practised his profession here until he was SO years of age. Mr. Cross won the prize for the best design of the original Dunedin Town Hall, and designed a number of prominent public buildings in other parts of the Dominion. For over 60 years Mr. Cross was a member of the Court City of Auckland Lodge, A.O.F. A family of three sons and three daughters, 25 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, survive Mr. Cross. The children are Mrs. A. Edmonds, of Eden Terrace; Mrs. W. Harbourne, of Grey Lynn; Miss L. J. Cross, of Eden Terrace; Mr. W. H. Cross, cf Newton; Mr C. H. Cross, of Western Springs; and Mr. A. S. Cross, of Epsom.