DEATH OF MR W. P. JAMES, S.M.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9540, 12 July 1909, Page 5

DEATH OF MR W. P. JAMES, S.M.

UNIVERSAL REGRET AT THE SAD OCCURRENCE. BRIEF SKETCH OF AN INTERESTING CAREER. The news that the recant sudden attack of heart trouble which laid Mr W. P. James, S.M., aside a fortnight ago had a fatal termination at one o'clock, yesterday morning, caused a shock to the whole community. The illness appeared to be passing away, Mr James having kept quietly to his room, and being under close medics] attention, but the trouble recurred, and rather unexpectedly , the end came at the hour stated. The late Mr James was born in London in 1853. His father was in the Customs service at Home, but removed to New Zealand on account of his health, settling in Auckland. It was in the litter citv where Mr James was educated—in the High School under Mr Farquhar Mcßae, and later at th* Collegiate School under Dr, Kidd. In September. 1867, he entered the Government service in the Stamp-printing Department. About 18 months later he was appointed a clerk in the Magistrate's Court offices in Wellington, a post he retained until 1875. In that year he was sent to Dunedin to act as relieving clerk of the District and Magistrate's Courts. After a shorn period in that capacity be returned to Wellington, but at the latter end of 1878 he returned to Dunedin to take up the position of Clerk of the Police" Court. In 1879 he again returned to Wellington, where the position of Clerk of the Magistrate's Court awaited him, a position he occupied, with various other associated duties, until has elevation to the Magisterial Bench in April, i9OO, when he was appointed to Masterton. In 1878 Mr James married Miss L. M. Holmes, daughter of Mr W. R. Holmes, Headmaster of the Te Aro School. He leaves, besides Mrs James, two sons—Mr Norman Jh James, the well-known Mastertm accountant, and secretary of various organisations, and an elder son residing in Tasmania. The deceased gentleman was ai, unusually devoted patron of the field of athletics. In his younger days in Wellington he was associated with the foundine of Rusbv football in New Zealand, . being organiser of the first Wellington representative team to mike a Rugbv football tour. His reminiscent of the old football day-4 . w°-e a Iwnvri exceedingly interesting nsrrrftivp", and he never tired ol recounting

the exploits of the earlv R,'t"hv days, when the football was oi a more severe, and exacting nature than the game as played to day. In Wellington he also identified himself closely with acquatic sports and pastimes, and he was a prominent figure in the rowing and swimming world. As a young man he possessed exctp- j tional vitality, and he was very sue- j cessful in the various sports to which j he devoted himself. Even during the somewhat strenuous duties attaching | to Magisterial office the deceased found time to take an active part in outdoor games, and he was a prominent member of the Master ton Golf Club, being one of the Management Committee, while last year beheld the important position of Captain uf the Club. He was also an enthusiastic tennis player, and only last season took up the game of bowls, and in this showed remarkable proficiency for a first season player. He was a member of the Masterton Bowling Club and the Masterton Tennis Club. The late Mr James was a prominent member of the Anglican Church at Masterton, holding tho position of a Churchwarden. . The deceased gentleman is to be buried at Wellington.