OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1917, Page 3

OBITUARY.

THE LATE E. T. CURTIS. Says Queensland Gossip in the Bulletin of August 30 last:—Two weljknown Bananalanders went over the hill during the week —one, E. Temple Curtis, A well liked customs officer who died suddenly at Clayfield. He had been in the Department since 1983, stationed in turn at Maryborough, Gladstone and Thursday Island. His widow was a daughter of the late Lawrence Smith, nne of the best known of the earlier Rrisbane settlers. An only son, Lieut, lie Burgh Curtis, is in France with the A.1.F." Mr. Temple Curtis was a son of the (ate Mr. George Curtis, of Omata, and was educated at the Beach School, New Plymouth. In 1878 he joined the Customs service at Nelson; in 1871) was transferred to Wanganui where he wa3 held in high esteem. Being remarkable Is a pole jumper many of the older people tell with admiration how in a vault he would climb a foot or two up the pole when negotiating a stiff Jump. In 1883 he left with Ted Lackett, A well known Wanganui boy, for Queensland and on arriving at Rockliamnton joined the Customs there. In 1890 he was appointed Collector -f Custom? and Police Magistrate at Gladstone. He was H school fellow and correspondent of Mr. John Hempton, the late collector at New Plymouth, and of Mr. I. B. D. Eyre, the i present collector. Many New Plymouth boys of the

seventies will remember "Mick" Curtis as an upstanding, active UwJ, always genial and happy in his disposition. In those days many of the boys rode to school, Und "Mick" being the biggest lad in school had the biggest and best horse. His riding of the horse over hurdles and racing on the beach (you could take a gallop on these at that time) when he, Charley Lepper, Harper Lepper and flip Messengers took part, are of the happy memories of our boyhood, lly an odd coincidence he died within a few days of his schoolfellow and one time chum, Charley Lepper.