BANK INSPECTOR SUICIDES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 322, 24 January 1908, Page 2

BANK INSPECTOR SUICIDES.

Uinsunuren, muiauuy. Air Hector K. Bellnine, Inspector of the Hank of Australasia, jumped overboard from the s.s. Aionowai at 3.15 i a.m. to-day, on the way from Welling- I ton. A steward saw him hanging i outside the bulwarks and tried to rescue him, but failed. A search was made, but tlie body was not found. Deceased had been in'ill-health for sonic time, lie was going south by the doctor's orders. Later.

Air H. K. Bethunc, who was lost oh the Aionowai, had not been in good health for some time. About six months ago he became a victim to inlluenza, whidi completely prostrated him. Early in the present month he went up to the Wairarapa to recuperate, but returned to Wellington a week ago, feeing no better for the change. Yesterday, however, he was in capital spirits, and when he went on board the .steamer last night with some relatives I and friends he looked better than he had done for some months. Air llethune, who was very popular, was a son of the | late Air John Bctiiune, an early and rej s () ected settler of Wellington, and was born in this city in 1857. He was educated at Wellington College, and enter- ' ed the service of the Hank of Australasia her t . in 1874. He soon displayed an aptitude for the business and made rapid progress in the service. He was accountant in Wellington for some time, and subsequently acted as manager at Dunedin and Auckland. Air liethune was then appointed to the charge of the I Wellington branch, and soon after assuming tiie position he was married t< Aliss Smith, of Wanganui. About thrct years ago he was granted a year's leavi of absence to enable him to visit tin Old Country in company with his wife 1 In April of last year he was promote) ; from the position of Sub-inspector ti ' that of Inspector for New Zealand. II ' was a valued servant of the Bank. Th news of his death bus given his brothc I officers a great shock. He has left n , family.