Nathaniel Arnold Mitchell, 1879-7/9/1886.

 DEATHS.

On the 7th September, at his father's residence, Beach House, North Taieri, Nathaniel Arnold, fourth son of William Mitchell and his late wife, Elisabeth Mitchell; aged 16 years Deeply regretted. -Otago Witness, 17/9/1886.

OUR LITTLE FOLKS.

By Dot. 

To our little folks. 

[Dot will be pleased to receive short letters from juvenile correspondents on any matters of interest to themselves — short stories of pet animals, descriptions of their favourite toys, their parties, amusements, &c. the letters to be written by the children themselves and addressed "Dot, care of the Editor." and to be published in the page devoted to "Our Little Folks."] 

Sometimes the children's letters do not reach Dot in time for mention and reply the same week, but in all cases will be acknowledged in due course. 

Dear Dot, — My first letter to you is a very sad one. It is about the death of our dear schoolmate, Nathaniel Arnold Mitchell, who died on Tuesday, 7th September, of brain fever, caused partly through a fall on his head, and partly through being over anxious to pass his standard at school. He had a bad headache on Thursday and Friday, the 2nd and 3rd September — the two days of the examination. Dear Nathaniel was such a good boy, and was so anxious to pass that he would go to school. When he went home on Friday afternoon his head was worse, and on Sunday, the 5th, he was very bad. The doctor could do little for him, but did everything that was possible to save his life, but it was not to be, and Nathaniel died at half-past 11 on Tuesday. Dear Dot, I cannot tell you how sorry everybody about here is, for he was such a good, kind, gentle friend, and was always ready to help anyone. I think he was the best boy in the school. His funeral took place on Thursday, the 9th September, and there was such a lot of people there. All the schoolboys went. They took wreaths, crosses, and bunches of flowers, and threw them in the grave. It made such a lot of us cry to see dear Nat put down the deep hole and covered over with dirt. Mr Murray, the schoolmaster, had such a lovely cross made in Dunedin as his last token of respect for dear, dear Nathaniel. He is deeply regretted by all who knew him. Dear Dot, it is a very sad death, and is made more so by the fact that only a year ago his mother died; so you will know how sad all his people are. — I am, dear Dot, yours truly, John (age 13). Taieri, September 15.   -Otago Witness, 1/10/1886.

West Taieri Cemetery.

George Shrimpton, 1871-12/9/1907.

FATALITY AT WAIPORI.

SUPPOSED ELECTROCUTION. 

[Press Association.] DUNEDIN, To-day. The electric cars were momentarily stopped this forenoon, owing to a fatal accident to George Shrimpton, single, employed at the Waipori electric power works as general utility man. No particulars of the accident are available. Shrimpton's parents live at Berwick. He was about 25, and has been engaged on the works since they started. He is supposed to have been electrocuted. He was one of the best men employed at Waipori, and had been selected for promotion.  -Bush Advocate, 12/9/1907.

The circumstances under which George Shrimpton met his death at Waipori are not disclosed to us by the electrical engineer. There is an uneasy feeling abroad that the works at Waipori are unsafe. It is said that another man, named Clothier, also received a heavy shock, and had a narrow escape. No doubt all the important facts will be disclosed at the inquest tomorrow morning.  -Evening star, 13/9/1907.

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

THE WAIPORI ELECTROCUTION. 

The authorities are (the "Otago Daily Times" states) strangely reticent over the Waipori accident, but, as far as can be learned, it appears that Shrimpton, together with an older man named Clothier, was engaged in taking glazed pipes (presumably to be used for insulating purposes) to an upper room, where sudden death is lurking on all sides. The men reached the room without mishap, and the deceased deposited his burden, weighing some 50lb or 60lb on the floor, and turned to help his companion. The moment was his last. His head came in contact with an overhead copper switch, it is stated, and he collapsed and fell back over the pipe he had been carrying, death having been instantaneous. As he fell he evidently touched Clothier, who received a tremendous shock which, fortunately was not sufficient to kill him. Clothier was in a dazed condition for the greater part of the day. Shrimpton's body was conveyed to one of the houses near by, and late in the afternoon a vehicle was sent from Berwick to convey it to Outram. Deceased was severely burned and disfigured about the head and neck, and although the men at the works had little doubt that life was extinct, they applied artificial resuscitation for two hours in the hope of restoring vitality. An engineer, commenting on the accident, states: "There should be no part of the 30,000 volts alternating system within reach of a man's head. It is extremely dangerous to approach the wires and switches in this department, and to go near with anything in the shape of metal in one's possession is positively courting death. Even the casing of the apparatus, in the event of a leakage, is dangerous.  -Mataura Ensign, 13/9/1907.

THE WAIPORI FATALITY.

THE INQUEST. 

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

 Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) and a jury of six, of whom Mr T. A. White was foreman, held an inquest on Saturday at Outram concerning the death of George Shrimpton, the man who was killed at the Waipori electric works on Thursday through his head coming in contact with one of the switches at the works.

Mr W.C. MacGregor appeared for the City Corporation, and Mr J. M. Gallaway for the relatives of deceased. 

THE EVIDENCE.

Frederick William Clothier, the first witness called, said he was a labourer, occupied at the Waipori Falls Electric Power Works. He knew the deceased, and identified the body. Deceased was similarly employed with witness. On Thursday, the 12th inst., witness was in company with deceased, carrying pipes into the power-house. They carried the pipes up two flights of stairs into the upper storey of the building. They had each carried up a pipe, and were carrying up the others, and deceased put his pipe down. Witness was just behind deceased, with a pipe on his shoulder, and deceased turned to assist him with the pipe he was carrying when witness received a shock. Both he and deceased fell together. As far as he was aware witness did not come in contact with any of the wires. The wires came straight down from the roof through the floor, and were guarded round above the floor for about 4ft or 5ft with pipes and railings. When witness recovered himself, he crawled away on his hands and knees, and was assisted downstairs to the open air.

To Mr MacGregor: They started at 8 o'clock in the morning, and were instructed to take down two barrels of oil from the stable to the power-house. They had been instructed to do this, by Mr Keon, the previous day, and had taken down seven barrels, and that left two to be taken down. They did not take these two down on the Thursday morning, because they thought the track was too slippery, and it was dangerous. Shrimpton suggested taking down the pipes instead. Witness had no instruction to take down the pipes. There was no danger as regards the electrical appliances in taking down the oil. Shrimpton said they would have to take the pipes through the powerhouse up to the switch-room. They were not allowed to go into the switch-room unless ordered to, or accompanied, by Mr Keon. On this particular morning they went in by themselves, without any instructions so for as witness was concerned. Witness acted at the instigation of Shrimpton. Witness knew he was going into danger. Shrimpton also must have known he was going into danger. He said they would have to be very careful upstairs, and they were very careful. Shrimpton was a very careful man. They went in by a little side door to the work-room. The switch-room was the most dangerous room in the power-house. The man on the watch could not see them going up the stair. Witness was just behind Shrimpton, who asked him to put down his pipe.

To Mr Gallaway: Witness had been in the switchboard-room before. Last time witness was there he was cleaning out a large oil tank. He had never taken up any of these pipes before, but could not say whether Shrimpton had done so. Witness thought they had been instructed to go there, but Shrimpton did not say so. He said, "We had better take these pipes upstairs." He said it was too frosty for the other job, and that they had better take the pipes up to the power-house. Witness presumed Shrimpton had instructions. Mr Keon never told witness to take instructions from Shrimpton. 

To Mr MacGregor: It was not on a Sunday that witness was in the switchboard-room before. The current was not shut off. He and a man named Turner were at the far end of the building, away from the switches. There was no danger in that part of the building.

To the Jury: Witness and Shrimpton both fell together. The wires were about 2ft apart, and the pipes about 2ft long and 1ft in diameter.

William Henry Keon, first operating engineer at the Waipori electric works, said that on Thursday morning he understood deceased was sledging oil, as instructed the previous afternoon. He had no instructions from witness with regard to carrying the pipes. At 8.58 a.m. there were indications of a dead short (a short circuit); and the generators increased in speed momentarily. The current was immediately turned off by the switch board attendant. Witness smelt something burning, and looked through into the transformer room, and proceeded upstairs. Turning to his left in the switch board room he found Shrimpton hung up on the guard pipes. Witness then returned to the switch board and gave orders that the circuit was not to be put on the line again. He then returned and assisted to carry Shrimpton's body to the switch board gallery. Shrimpton was quite dead, and the body was left in charge of Blackwood. Witness then rang up his chief (Mr Stark) in Dunedin. and notified him of what had happened, and asked for a doctor to be sent out. He rang up the staff at the cottages to come down to assist in the attempt to restore consciousness, which attempt was kept up for two hours and a-half, but without avail. Clothier was lying on the floor when witness first saw deceased and was about 3ft away from deceased. There was a pipe alongside Clothier.

To Mr MacGregor: Clothier and Shrimpton were employed as labourers, the latter coming to the Waipori works in February, 1906. He was an exceptionally intelligent man, and would never be idle. He was aware of the danger of coming in contact with the wires or switches. Witness had often spoken to him of the danger. The current was on continuously, except for a few hours on Sunday. Witness had never before known a labourer enter the switch board room while the plant was in operation without being accompanied by a responsible person. There was no danger in Clothier being where he was cleaning the oil tank. There were boards marked "Danger" hung round the switch board room. Shrimpton would pass four danger boards before coming to where his body was found. There was no recognised passage where the men were. It was the most dangerous part of the chamber. Witness had told Shrimpton not to do things before. He was very eager, and never liked to be idle.

To Mr Gallaway: Clothier had been there from the inception of the works. Witness never told Clothier he was to take instructions from Shrimpton. The earthenware pipes surrounding the wires were put there during construction time. Mr Stark gave orders that these new earthenware pipes were to be put in. The instructions were given by Mr Stark some weeks ago. He said he was sending the pipes out. The first batch of 12 came out a few days before the accident, and were unloaded by the waggoner. Witness believed the whole staff knew where the pipes were to go. Clothier and Shrimpton had carried others up that morning, and these two were evidently taken on a second trip. Witness would not have attempted to put the pipes there then. His intention was to carry them up on a Sunday morning, when the current was off. Witness never dreamed of ordering the men to carry the pipes up there, he did not consider it practicable to protect the disconnecting switches so as to make it impossible for a man to come in contact with them. Witness did not consider it was dangerous to take the oil down that day. 

To Mr MacGregor: There were 64 switches in operation in the switch room, and it might be necessary to operate any of these at any moment. In witness's opinion it would be more dangerous to have these switches protected in such a way that removal of the protection would be necessary before operation.

To the jury: It was in consequence of static discharge that the pipes were to be taken out and replaced. The change was to prevent this discharge, and was not with a view of increasing the safety although it might have that effect. 

Mr MacGregor: There is a misconception about these pipes. They are not intended as a protection to the men, but to the wires. 

Dr Fulton, deposed that on Thursday he proceeded to the electric power works at Waipori, and reached there about 2 p.m. He went to the hut in which the body of deceased was lying, and made an examination. Shrimpton was quite dead. His face and neck, right shoulder and arm, and right side down to the level of the elbow were all scorched. The hair on his face and head was burned and there was an indentation on the back of the head where he had come in contact with the switch. His hat was partially scorched. The nails in his boots were fused, where the current had gone through to the earth. After hearing the statements made, witness concluded that Shrimpton had died instantly. Witness went to the power-house with Mr Keon and inspected the scene of the accident. On going in witness saw great danger boards, in all directions, and realised he was in an absolute death-trap. Mr Keon and the father of deceased went up into the switch-room with witness. He saw on the end switch evidences of deceased's contact with it. On the down wire through the pipes there was also evidence of contact. Mr Keon impressed upon them the necessity for extreme caution, and took them down a back stair into the transformer-room. There was no one there. A possible prevention to accident that had occurred to witness was that there should be on the doors notices, that no one should enter without a permit. Witness did not see any reason why a bar should not be used to protect the 12 switches where deceased met with his accident. 

Mr Keon said that would be more dangerous, and was not practicable. 

Witness (continuing) said he had formed the opinion that the building should be practically as inaccessible as a prison. The precautions were very good, but it struck one that there was a lot of uninsulated wires about, carrying a high current. 

THE SUMMING-UP. 

The Coroner said they had gone pretty minutely into the circumstances connected with the death of deceased. It was unfortunate that Clothier had fallen with deceased and received a shock, as he was able to tell but very little of what occurred. That death was due to accident there could be no doubt. Deceased might have overreached himself in taking the pipe off Clothier's shoulder, but it was evident that the cause of death was accidentally coming in contact with a live wire. The question was whether all necessary precautions had been taken to prevent such an accident. They were told by Mr Keon that no one had any right to go into that place except they were accompanied by an expert, and that no instructions were given to Clothier or Shrimpton to go in there. They were also told that Shrimpton was an intelligent and zealous man, anxious to do all the work in his power. He had had his instructions from Mr Keon, but as he did not think it safe to sledge the barrels down, he thought he might employ his time in taking the pipes to the switch-room. To do such a thing without consulting Mr Keon seemed to have been an error of judgment on Shrimpton's part, for which the poor man had suffered. Taking everything into consideration, they could only come to the conclusion that deceased did what he was practically forbidden to do, and he (Mr. Graham) thought the jury would be perfectly justified in returning a verdict that no blame was attachable to anyone. Mr Keon said he had given strict injunctions that no one was to go into that room without instructions, or without being accompanied by him. As to extra precautions being taken, he (Mr Graham) did not think he or the jury was in a position to judge. It was a matter for experts. 

THE VERDICT. 

After a brief consultation the jury returned a verdict — "That George Shrimpton died at the electric power works at Waipori on the 12th September, the cause of death being accidentally coming in contact with a live electric wire, and that no blame was attachable to anyone." The jury recommended that access to the main building be at all times prevented by means of locking the doors, which were to be under the control of the man in charge.  -Otago Daily Times, 16/9/1907.

THE RECENT FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE POWER STATION, WAIPORI: INTERIOR OF THE OIL SWITCH ROOM, WHERE GEORGE SHRIMPTON MET HIS DEATH.  -Otago Witness, 18/9/1907.

West Taieri Cemetery.

Thomas Grant, 1838-4/2/1868.

THE FLOODS

The extent and the destructiveness of the floods which are now afflicting Otago, will be vastly greater than could be inferred from the accounts which we published yesterday. Throughout a large portion of the Province, the waters rose terribly during Tuesday night and yesterday. There has not before been a series of floods here which has been comparable with the present for destructiveness. It is doubtful whether there has, since the settlement of Otago, been such an extensive overflowing of the rivers and the lesser streams: if there has, it was when population was very thin, and improvements but few and far between. On Tuesday, the coaches which left Dunedin for Tokomairiro performed both the up and the down journey, despite difficulty and danger. Yesterday, no wheeled vehicle could get further south of Dunedin than the 17-mile post, or something less than a mile from the Reliance Hotel, Otakia. It is true that the mails were forwarded on to Tokomairiro. But what terrible pictures of suffering and loss are conjured up by the statement of how that transmission of the mails was managed! They were conveyed in a boat for nine miles, to the Waihola township, the boat floating safely over many fences, and being rowed against many others so as to displace the top-rail, which was the only obstacle. The Taieri Plain itself, from a point about eleven miles (by the road) from Dunedin, is covered with an almost unbroken sheet of water, in some places deep enough to wash away, or almost to overtop, houses. Towards the West Taieri, from all we can learn, the flood is the deepest. The very costly bridge there has been much injured, apart from its approaches; and there has been at least one life lost — a son of Mr Grant having been drowned while going to his father's assistance.  -Otago Daily Times, 6/2/1868.

On reaching the Buck Eye Hotel, I found a number of persons engaged in searching for the body of Thomas Grant, son of Mr. Peter Grant, of Granton, who, it may be remembered, lost another son about a year ago by a fall from a dray. Finding that my further progress towards Dunedin was impossible, the main road being completely covered to an impassable depth, there was nothing for it but to take up my quarters here for the night. I therefore spent the remainder of the evening in ascertaining the losses sustained in the district, as far as possible, no communication having yet been obtained with the farmers of the lower portions of the plain. 

Feeling anxious about the safety of their father's family, Donald and Thomas Grant were riding on horseback, accompanied by a friend, through Mr. Borrie's cornfield, and had already passed through what appeared the most dangerous portion of the journey, the horses having had to swim at several places. Donald, the elder brother, had previously requested Thomas to return, as the danger appeared too great, but Thomas, in his anxiety, led the way, but unfortunately was not careful in avoiding a lagoon, into which the horse fell. No doubt the growing corn would entangle the horse's feet, and prevent him swimming freely. Thomas Grant became unhorsed and was observed endeavouring to swim, but suddenly disapeared.   -Bruce Herald, 12/2/1868.

West Taieri Cemetery.

Robert Cowin, 1863-3/3/1893.

 DOVEDALE.

[From our own Correspondent.] I have to record two deaths in one week in this little district. The first, Mrs Hill, died on Wednesday, at the age of sixty-five years. The funeral, which was a large one was conducted by the Rev C W Jennins. The deceased, who leaves a large family was one of Nelson's earliest settlers, having arrived here in 1842. A good part of he life was spent in Motueka, where she is stil remembered, especially by the Natives, with whom she was a great favourite. She came with her late husband (Mr Jamea Rose) to this district in its infancy, and has resided here until the time of her death. 

The next I have to record is specially sad in that it was so awfully sudden. A young man, thirty years of age, cut off in a moment, in the very bloom of health. The young man, Robert Cowin, was a son of Mr James Cowin, of Dovedale. The cause of his death was a shying horse. He was driving with a load of sacks of grass seed when the brute shied, and went right off the road (it was a side-cutting) and capsized the cart, when the young man fell apparently into the water-table, the horse falling on the top of him. A little boy, son of Mr M Davies, saw the overturned cart, and as soon as possible gave notice to the hop pickers in Mr W Win's hop-garden, when all the men ran as quickly as possible, and found the horse and cart as already described. Though there were willing bands, it was all too late, there being not the slightest sign of life left is the poor yonng man, who was carried to the house of Mr John Win, where an inquest was held on the following day (Saturday). A verdict, in accordance with the evidence, of accidental death was reoorded. The funeral, which was the largest ever witnessed in this district, took place on Sunday afternoon, when rtere were upwards of 400 people present at the cemetery, there being over forty carriages and about fifty horsemen and lady riders following. The local Oddfellows (to which order the deceased belonged) accorded him an official funeral, their merit board being carried in front of the hearse for the last quarter of a mile, the members following followed by the children of the Wesleyan Sunday school, of which he had been a teacher for many years. The burial service of the English Church was read by Mr J. W. Win, after which the very impressive service of the Oddfellows was read by P P.G.M. N. Win. Very great sympathy is felt for the bereaved family throughout the district, the young man being generally a favourite. He was of a genial and obliging disposition and will be certainly missed by a large circle of friends.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 9/3/1898.

Dovedale Cemetery.

6/302 Captain George Scott Murray, MC, RFC, 10/4/1892-24/5/1924.

George Murray was a farmer in the Nelson area when he enlisted in the Army in August, 1914.  He served in the Canterbury Infantry Regiment for all of three weeks, then for a reason that does not appear in his service record, he left New Zealand and made his way to France and the British Army, serving with the Royal Fusileers and the Royal Flying Corps.

PERSONALIA

Mr G. S. Murray, of Nelson, left Wellington last evening for Sydney, en route to England.  -NZ Times, 30/1/1915.

Lt. G. Scott Murray, Royal Fusiliers, attached to the R.F.C., is still out in East Africa, where he is seeing a considerable amount of duty as an airman.  -Evening Post, 2/3/1918.

George Murray served with 26 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, in the East African campaign.  It was a difficult time and place to be a flyer.  The planes were obsolescent - but with no enemy opposition in the air, that was one of their smaller problems - the tropical heat and damp rotted the organic parts of the structure and rusted the metal ones.  Ironically, one of their greatest problems was the lack of decent roads.  Aeroplanes soared above the jungle but supplies and ground crew needed to be transported by truck.  There were also the endemic tropical diseases to be contended with, notably malaria and it might have been that which led to George Murray's being eventually invalided out of the Army.

GALLANTRY REWARDED.

Mrs F. Barnes, of Cridland street, Kaiapoi, has received advice from the Minister of Defence that Regimental Sergtant-major T. S. West, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre for gallantry on the field action. Sergeant-major West left New Zealand with the Main Body, and took part in the landing and evacuation at Gallipoli, where he was wounded. He went through the battles of the Somme and Messines without mishap, and is at present studying for a commission at Keble College, Oxford. 

Information has been received that Captain Roland Fulton, R.A.M.C., eldest son of Lieutenant-colonel R. Fulton, of Dunedin, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre for meritorious services as regimental medical officer attached to the 13th Middlesex Regiment during the engagements at Ypres. 

Flight-lieutenant George Scott Murray, of the Tasman district, who was awarded the Military Cross for services rendered during the East African campaign, has been promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Murray received his decoration at the hands of the King, and and in latest advices he was leaving England for France.  -Otago Daily Times, 5/4/1918.

Among the decorated officers who recently returned was Captain G. S. Murray, R.F.C. Captain Murray joined the Imperial Army in England, and was attached to the Royal Fusiliers. He was later sent to German East Africa with the Royal Flying Corps, from where he has been invalided home to New Zealand. He was awarded the Military Cross in January last for "repeatedly carrying out bombing raids and obtaining valuable information regarding the enemy." Captain Murray was decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace in January last. He is a Nelson boy, and left New Zealand to join the Royal Flying Corps.  -Auckland Star, 20/5/1918.

COUNTRY NEWS.

TASMAN

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Captain G. S. Murray, of the Flying Corps, who has had over three years' active service, including some sensational experiences in German East Africa and in France, is enjoying a well earned furlough of six months. Captain Murray is at present spending a few days on his orchard at Tasman.  -Colonist, 29/5/1918.

SHIPMENT FOR S.S. SOMERSET

Captain G. S. Murray, of Tasman, who has been in Wellington since Saturday last in connection the despatch of fruit to Glasgow, per s.s. Somerset, is delighted with the arrangements made for the loading of the fruit. The fruit had been precooled and was placed on board the steamer at a temperature of 42deg., and the handling was all that could be desired. Fruit was stacked with plenty of ventilation between the cases, and the engineers stated that the whole shipment could be reduced to a temperature of 30deg. within a few hours of sailing.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 29/3/1922.

A SAD DEATH

CAPTAIN SCOTT MURRAY

A painful shock was experienced by the Tasman district yesterday when it became known that Captain Scott Murray, who since the war has suffered severely from his experiences, had met his death by his own hand, being found shot through the heart. 

The late Captain Murray saw considerable service in East Africa as a captain in the flying corps and his trying experiences there greatly affected his nerves and he had not been the same man since. Despite his disabilaties however he took an active part in the fruit industry and was well and favourably known throughout the whole district. His is an end considerably delayed it is true, but none the less attributable to the ravages of the war. 

Widespread sympathy will be extended to the bereaved widow and child.   -Nelson Evening Mail, 26/5/1924.

Latest News From New Zealand

Captain Murray was found dead in his house in the Tasman district, Nelson, with a bullet in his heart. He was a captain in the flying service in East Africa, where his experiences caused a nervous breakdown.   -Samoanishce Zeitung, 30/5/1924.

Motueka Cemetery.

Robert Edward Albert Gadd, 1874-16/1/1923.

 FATALITY AT MAPUA

WHILE SHIFTING SCHOOL BUILDING

Quite a gloom was cast over the Mapua district on Tuesday last, when it became known that the task of shifting the school building had resulted in a fatality, the victim being Mr Robert Edward Albert Gadd, 47 years of age, married, with three children.

Operations were proceeding in lowering a wall on to a lorry with block and tackle, when the rope broke and the wall fell a distance of about two feet, striking the deceased on the back of the neck, breaking the neck. Death ensued almost immediately. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned.

Sincere sympathy will be extended to the bereaved widow and family.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 19/1/1923.

FUNERAL NOTICE 

THE friends of the late Robert Edward Albert Gadd are respectfully informed that his funeral will leave his residence TO-MORROW (Thursday) January 18th, at 1.30 p.m. for the Motueka Cemetery. EDMUND PARKER, Undertaker.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 17/1/1923.

THANKS

MRS E. GADD and Family wish to thank all kind friends for letters and wires of sympathy also floral tributes in their recent sad bereavement. Especially those who gave assistance.   -Nelson Evening Mail, 24/1/1923.

Motueka Cemetery.

6/256 Private Percival Hawken, 5/8/1894-11/6/1916.

 

MOTUEKA.

Regret is felt at the death of Private P. Hawken, aged 22, of the Main Body, Expeditionary Force. Private Hawken returned invalided some time ago. He had obtained his discharge, and was employed by Mr H. J. Trewavas, baker. He was at his work as usual on Friday, but complained of feeling unwell when he returned home in the evening. Dr. Horrax was called in, but death took place at midnight on Sunday. The sympathy of all is extended to his father and family. 

The funeral of the late Trooper Hawken took place yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, when the deceased was accorded military honours. There was a large attendance of Territorials and Cadets and of the general public, and among those present were the Mayor and borough councillors and representatives of the local Patriotic Committee. The returned soldiers of the district attended and a number of them acted as pall-bearers. The Rev. J. Newlands, of the Presbyterian Church, conducted the burial service. There was a firing party of'cadets, and the Last Post was sounded, with a roll of drums. Lieutenant Suckling was in command of the Defence forces on parade. SergeantMajor Hurdley was responsible for the military arrangements, and SergeantMajor Campbell was in charge of the pall-bearers.  -Colonist, 14/6/1916.

THANKS. 

MR. HAWKEN, of Motueka, wishes to thank all kind friends for their sympathy in connection with the death of his son.   -Nelson Evening Mail, 14/6/1916.

Percival Hawkins' military career was a short one.  He enlisted almost as soon as war was delcared, experienced two months' training, went to Gallipoli, caught typhoid fever, was taken to a Hospital Ship and eventually invalided home. He was discharged as medically unfit in March, 1916, after spending time in quarantine in Auckland due to the contagious nature of his disease.

Motueka Cemetery.