25888 Private William Kearney, (17/12/1892-7/6/1917). "no trace of him"

At 3.10 a.m. there was a shaking of the earth, a column of leaping flame quickly obscured by smoke and debris, and then a muffled roar. The mines had gone up. A brief pause. the sudden rattle of thousands of machine-guns, a flash round the horizon, and then with a thunderblast of sound the great barrage fell on the German line. The long roll of the heavy guns and the quick, stabbing, bang-snap-bang of the eighteenpounder blended into one tremendous volume of sound. Up from the enemy posts went the signals of distress and warning, but their urgent appeal met with small response, for the Hun artillery had been overwhelmed by the weight of the British counter-battery work. For hours their field guns were out of action, and the only reply they could make was with long-range guns of heavy calibre.

Behind the moving wall of steel and flame the infantry flung themselves on the demoralised enemy. With little opposition and light casualties the N.Z.R.B. and the 2/Brigade took the Blue, Brown and Yellow lines. A few scattered groups of Germans made a show of resistance, but little more than a show; by far the greater number were too dazed and shaken to think of anything but immediate surrender.  

Up in the front posts men ran greater risks from the short bursts of our own artillery than from the German fire. One battery of four big guns was continually firing short, and inflicted many casualties. For some reason or another, despite our complete control of the air and the large number of observation 'planes continually flying overhead, no message was got through to this battery. Its continued activity page 149caused considerable loss and the slight withdrawal of two posts. -Official History of the Auckland Infantry Regiment.

William Kearney was a victim of that four-gun battery.  His Army record includes statements from the Court of Enquiry which established the circumstances of his death:

Private C Maddock states: On the morning of 7th June my coy (company) was working in a c t  (communication trench) behind Messines. Private Kearney was working about 2 yards behind me. One of our own heave howitzer shells landed in the sap where I had just previously seen Private Kearney working. After the explosion no trace of him could be found. I believe he was blown to pieces.

Cpl Maynard states: On the morning of 7th June I set Pvt Kearney in his task in digging the C T. Later it was reported that a man had been blown up by one of our own shells landing amongst those working in the sap. When I took the roll at about 5.30 pm in the evening, Kearney was missing. There had been other casualties during the day. (low)

 

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

Joseph Davies, (1837-1/5/1891). "of the Albion Hotel"

MAYOR'S COURT.

Thursday, 23rd November,

(Before His Worship the Mayor and G. Brodie, Esq., J.P.)

Drunkenness. — Elizabeth George, brought up for being drunk in Maclaggan street at 9 o'clock on the night of the 22nd, was fined 10s, with the alternative of being sent to gaol for 48 hours.

Assault. — John C. Hughes was charged with assaulting Joseph Davies in his licensed house, the Albion Hotel, by striking him in the face. Hughes was fined 20s, getting the option of going to gaol for 48 hours.   -Otago Daily Times, 24/11/1871.

 DETANINg PRIVATE PROPERTY.

Charlotte Levy summoned Joseph Davies, proprietor of tHe Albion Hotel, with keeping a box, her property, containing wearing apparel. Plaintiff stated that she went to the defendant's hotel to lodge, about Six weeks ago, and remained there a month. Before leaving she paid defendant £3/10s; she had also taken part in the household duties, which, she considered, would be more than adequate to the amount of her board. She did not remember giviNg £5 to Mrs Davies and receiving £4 18s in changes. In answer to defendant, she said she remembered saying she would pay him 2s with other money, afterwards if he would allow her to stay a fortnight longer, as she was expecting some money from a man up-country. The complainant valued her clothes at £18 or £20.

The defendant said the plaintiff came to his public-house in company with a man named Thomas Murphy, on the 3rd June last. She was not sober at the time, but he accommodated her. About five o'clock the same evening, she called his wife and Murphy, where she treated them to a glass, as also the defendant. She then gave Mrs Davis £5, and received £4 18s in return. She afterwards gave her £4, telling her to keep it for her board and expenses. On the 4th June she received £1 back, and went to the Circus in the evening, not returning till about twenty minutes past twelve, then the worse for drink. I told her she could go, as she owed me for two weeks. A fortnight afterwards she came for the box, which he retained in lieu of the payment of board and lodging due to him.

Thomas Murphy corroborated the statement of defendant with regard to the plaintiff paying for the drinks, and the indebtedness of plaintiff for a fortnight's board. 

His Worship: I think the evidence in this case discloses the fact that the plaintiff is indebted to the defendant for £2 1s. The law allows any hotelkeeper to retain his lodgers' goods for board and lodging and also for drink supplied to the boarder. The order of the Court is that the box of clothes be delivered-up to plaintiff for £2 ls.    -Otago Daily Times, 2/8/1872.

TENDERS. 

TENDERS Wanted for the Erection of a Three-roomed House. Apply Mr Davies, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street.  -Evening Star, 16/7/1874.

TO LET, a 4-roomed HOUSE, newly finished. Apply Joseph Davies, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street.   -Otago Daily Times, 3/10/1874.

Voluntary Imprisonment. — Henry Young was charged by John Davies, proprietor of the Albion Hotel, with breaking one of his windows. Prisoner pleaded guilty. — Inspector Mallard said there appeared to be some method in prisoner’s act. He gave himself into custody on Monday evening, saying he had no place to go, and was let off next day. — Accused admitted having broken the window, so as to be sent to gaol. The Bench gratified his desire by sentencing him to the full term of two months’ imprisonment.  -Evening Star, 25/8/1875.

SUICIDE.

The City Coroner (Dr Hocken) held an inquest at the Hospital yesterday, touching the death of Joseph Leamon, who died by selfinflicted injuries on Sunday evening.

The Coroner: This, gentlemen, is a case, with the particulars of which I dare say you are acquainted. It is that of a man named Joseph Leamon, who shot himself on Sunday night. The pistol was fired in his right ear, and death took place almost instantaneously. It appears that he was in very distressed circumstances since his arrival here from Sydney. The question for you to consider is whether the man committed this act whilst in his full senses, or whether he was labouring under what is called temporary insanity. It is quite possible, of course, that great depression of spirits, induced by want of work and means, might induce insanity sufficient for the purposes of the law; at the same time you should not lend yourselves too readily to verdicts of this sort, as I have long been of opinion that verdicts of temporary insanity are too frequently returned when there is not sufficient evidence to warrant them in doing so. I think it quite possible that a verdict of that sort is likely occasionally to prevent other would-be suicides from committing self-destruction. You will have to gather from the evidence the state of mind deceased was in when he shot himself.

The Jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was given: —  

Joseph Davies deposed: I am proprietor of the Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street. Deceased came to lodge with me on the 15th of last June, stating that he had that day arrived from Sydney. He said he was a weaver, and enquired if there were any factories where he could get employment. He could not get anything at the Mosgiel Factory, and said he was too old to work at pick and shovel. He informed me that he had lived most of his time in America, but had gone to Sydney to see if his daughter was married. As soon as he could raise money, he intended to go back to America; but of late he had been in a melancholy condition. He wrote to his daughters for assistance, but they did not reply to his letters, and he told me he would shoot himself. After that he was confined to his room fur a time, and did not eat anything. He had a revolver in his possession at this time, but I was not aware of it then. When I saw him with the pistol, I wanted him to give it to me, but he said he had carried it with him for many years and would continue to do so. Last Sunday evening, about twenty minutes to ten, he was sitting in the sitting-room, talking with some of the boarders, and then walked into the billiard-room. About two minutes after we heard the report of the revolver. On entering the room I found him sitting on the form, with his legs hanging over it. The revolver was in his right hand, and, though speechless, he was not dead. He lingered about ten minutes, and then expired. Deceased told me that he was 75 years of age, a widower, weaver by occupation, and a native of Yorkshire. He had no religion whatever. He was a man of very sober habits.

Witness enquired of the Coroner where it was intended to bury deceased. 

The Coroner said that was a question he was not prepared to answer. 

Joseph Kendall, a boarder at the Albion Hotel, had frequently seen deceased. He was very taciturn, and would not enter upon conversation; sitting brooding by the fire for hours together without making any remark. His other evidence was similar to that given by the last witness.

The Coroner directed the Jury that they would have to consider whether the nature of the evidence was indicative of insanity or not. If they returned a verdict of felo de se the law directed that the goods of deceased should be confiscated, denied him Christian burial, and cast a stigma on his memory. As far as the evidence went, it seemed to show that deceased was in a despondent state of mind. 

A verdict of "temporary insanity" was returned.  -ODT, 13/9/1876.

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

The new Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street, which has been built for Mr J. Davies, contrasts very strikingly with the wood structure which previously occupied the same site, and shows in a marked degree the rapid and extensive improvement in the architecture of the city. The building, which will be finished in the course of a few weeks, is of a substantial character, and in appearance is neat and attractive. Although built upon a small area, it is very commodious. This is, indeed, the feature of the building upon which the ingenuity of the architect, Mr L. Boldini, was exercised. The ground is only 40ft by 41ft, and the building, a threestorey one, contains no less than forty apartments. On the ground-floor there are a large billiard room, 24ft by 18ft, a bar, two sitting rooms, a dining room, kitchen, passage, pantry, and two staircases — one for the boarders and a private one. On the first floor there are ten bedrooms for lodgers, two store rooms, and four large rooms comprising the private apartments for the proprietor of the hotel and his family. The last floor contains 20 comfortable bedrooms. The building is a mixture of the French and Italian styles of architecture. Its front elevation to Maclaggan street presents a very respectable appearance. It is not highly ornamental; but the central part of the building is made to contrast with the plain wings in a pleasing and effective manner. The building has been designed to the entire satisfaction of the proprietor, and its appearance will add still more to the importance of Maclaggan street, in which a number of very respectable shops and stores have recently been erected.  -Otago Daily Times, 11/12/1877.

FOR SALE, Billiard Table, with contents, in good order. Apply Joseph Davies, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street.  -Evening Star, 17/7/1880.

WANTED, a female Cook (sober). Apply Joseph Davies, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street.  -Evening Star, 27/7/1880.

TO LET, Market Garden, near town. Apply Joseph Davies, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street.  -Evening Star, 28/8/1880.

Mr Davies, of the Albion Hotel, Maclaggan Street states in another column that the rate of board and lodging will in future be 18s per week.  -Otago Daily Times, 5/5/1881.

LOST, Cockatoo; finder rewarded. J. Davies, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street, Dunedin.  -Evening Star, 24/2/1888.

FOR SALE, the LEASE and GOODWILL of the ALBION HOTEL, Dunedin; 30 years to run; ground rent, 35s per week. — Apply J. Davies.   -Otago Daily Times, 30/10/1889.

ALBION HOTEL, Maclaggan street; no extra charge during Exhibition; by the day 3s, or 18s per week; plenty of accommodation for visitors; night porter in attendance. — J. Davies proprietor.  -Otago Daily Times, 31/12/1889.

WANTED Known — Alice Davies, accidentally poisoned herself, is not Mrs Davies of Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street.  -Evening Star, 20/8/1890.

Deaths.

Davies. — On the 1st Inst., at his residence, Albion Hotel, Maclaggan street, Joseph Davies; aged 56 years.  -Evening Star, 1/5/1891.

I, CATHERINE DAVIES, of Dunedin, Widow, do hereby give notice that I desire to obtain, and will, at the next Licensing Meeting to be holden at Dunedin on the 5th day of June 1891, apply for a Certificate authorising the renewal and issue of a PUBLICAN'S LICENSE and of an ELEVEN O'CLOCK LICENSE for a house situate at Maclaggan street, Dunedin, and known as the "Albion Hotel," containing 40 rooms, exclusive of those required for the use of the family. 

Dated the 5th day of May 1891. CATHERINE DAVIES.  -Otago Daily Times, 11/5/1891.

Catherine Davies ran the Albion for 12 years, until 1893. She died and was buried beside Joseph on 1905.

In Memoriam.

In loving memory of our dear mother, Catherine Davies, who departed this life June 3rd, 1905.

Sleep on, dear mother, thy labor is o'er, 

Thy willing hands will toil no more; 

God called you home — He knoweth best — 

We miss you most who loved you best. 

— Inserted by her loving daughter Fanny Morris. -Evening Star, 3/6/1907.

Leslie Edward Sargent, (1902-10/1/1930). "integrity and ability"

DEATHS

SARGENT. — On January 10', 1930, at the residence, Harris street. Waimate, Leslie Edward, dearly beloved second son of Adela Kate Sargent and the late J. B. Sargent; in his twenty-ninth year (after a short illness). Private Interment at Dunedin.  -Otago Daily Times, 13/1/1930.

WAIMATE.

OBITUARY. 

Profound regret was expressed in Waimate on Saturday, when news was received of the death of Mr Leslie Edward Sargent. The late Mr Sargent concluded his education at the Waimate District High School in 1917, and was appointed to a position on the staff of the “Advertiser,” assuming the responsibilities of business manager and head of the publishing department of the paper before reaching the age of 21 years. In business spheres all with whom he came in contact honoured him for his integrity and ability. The deceased was unmarried, and was not quite 29 years of age at the time of his death. The sympathy of the residents of the whole district goes out to his mother, Mrs A. K. Sargent, his brother, Mr Austin Sargent, and sister, Mrs R. J. Murphy, all of whom reside in Waimate, in their bereavement. The remains will be interred in Dunedin on Tuesday, at a private funeral.  -Timaru Herald, 13/1/1930.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

8/3956 Private Herbert Morley, (6/4/1899-7/6/1917). "somewhere in France"

 

Herbert Morley joined the 2nd Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment in France on April 24, 1916.  The following September he and his Battalion were waiting in the trenches to take their part in the "Big Push," the eventually failed and costly Battle of the Somme. On September 14, the day before the scheduled attack, he was wounded by German shrapnel in a shoulder and hospitalised. His wound may have been a well-disguised blessing, keeping him in hospital for three weeks and keeping him from joining the roughly 1200 New Zealanders who died in the fighting, many with no known graves. Herbert's Company, the 8th, was "seriously depleted in strength under the blasts of machine-gun fire which swept their ranks" on the morning of October 1st, according to the Otagos' Official History.

The 2nd Battalion went into battle at Messines on June 7, 1917, numbering 798  men. Nineteen mines were exploded under German positions to open the battle and the New Zealanders climbed out of their trenches and marched towards the devastation.  Seventy seven Otago men died on that first day. Herbert Morley was one of them.

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE

DEATHS

MORLEY. — On June 7, killed while in action "Somewhere in France," Herbert Morley (10th Reinforcements).  -Otago Daily Times, 23/6/1917.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.

37616 Private Thomas Robert Horne, (26/5/1915-23/11/1941). "at great cost"

By nightfall part of Point 175 had been captured at great cost. The casualties exceeded 400 and included more than 350 — about 100 of them killed or mortally wounded — in 25 Battalion alone. Eleven men were missing from 9 Platoon, and of these at least six (Daly, Ralfe, Lee, Horne, Johnston and Taylor) were dead.  -Official History of 27 Battalion.

Point 175 was one of the many otherwise anonymous places in North Africa, taken after unexpectedly high numbers of troops defending it were overcome.  Thomas Horne was reported as missing after the fight, eventually reported "killed in action" in February 1942.

Timaru Cemetery.

William J Urch, (1841-7/5/1868). "had not undressed"

 

William J. Urch, who for some years has been in the employment of Messrs Whittingham Brothers, was found dead in his bed at his lodgings, the Spanish Restaurant, on Saturday morning last. He had gone to bed at half-past seven o'clock on the previous evening, but had not undressed. An inquest will be held to-day.  -Otago Daily Times, 11/5/1868.

An inquest was held yesterday, at the Imperial Hotel, Princes street, on the body of William J. Urch, who had been found dead in his bed on the previous Saturday. The evidence of witnesses who had known the deceased was that lately he had been much addicted to drink. Dr Alexander detailed the result of a post mortem examination of the body, and stated that he believed the cause of death to have been chronic disease, produced by the habitual and excessive use of alcohol, and exhaustion consequent of want of nourishment. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/5/1868.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.

John Charles (1829-4/5/1912) and Rebecca Elizabeth (1835-17/12/1916) Eyre. "the gold fever"

 A GOLDEN WEDDING.

Mr and Mrs, J. C. Eyre celebrated their golden wedding on Monday last. About 35 friends and relatives sat down to the breakfast provided, among those present being the Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers. The aged couple received many congratulations during the day, and there was a large gathering in the evening in the Stuart Street Hall, where refreshments were provided, and an enjoyable time spent. Mr John Charles Eyre left England in September, 1849, in the ship Sarah, and reached Sydney in December of the name year. After working at his trade as a saddler for 12 months he proceeded to Melbourne. He spent two or three years on the goldfields, including Castlemaine and Bendigo, and then decided to come to Dunedin, arriving here in the ship Beauergis. He worked tor some time for the late Mr Charles Moore (now Brace, Windle, and Blyth), and then became manager for the late Mr George Dowse, a position he held until the latter retired from business some 19 years ago. Mr Eyre started in business on his own account about 11 years ago in Dunedin. and afterwards at Owaka, where he still resides. He was married to Miss Rebecca E. Richards at Sydney in October, 1855. and they have a family of 11 — four sons and seven daughters — all of whom are still living, and, with two exceptions, are all married. The daughters are Mrs Stenhouse (Sydney), Mrs G. West (Dunedin), Mrs S. Vickery (London), Mrs G. Morton (Melbourne), Mrs C. Rowden (Christchurch), Mrs C. H. Hayward (Dunedin), and Miss Eyre. One of the sons is in Auckland, another at Springfield, and two in Dunedin. There are at present 16 grand children.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/10/1905.

FUKEEAL NOTICE. 

THE Friends of the late John Charles Eyre (and family) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, 58 Dundas street, TOMORROW (Saturday), the 4th inst., at 1 p.m., for the Southern Cemetery. 

HUGH GOURLEY. Undertaker, Clarke and Maclaggan streets.  -Evening Star, 3/5/1912.

Mr John Charles Eyre, whose death was announced in our columns of yesterday at the age of 83 years, was well known in the sixties and seventies in connection with the saddlery trade of this City. The late Mr Eyre was born in Truro, Cornwall, in the year 1829, where he served his apprenticeship to his trade, but glowing accounts coming from Australia he left England in September, 1849, in the ship Sarah for Sydney. After working at his trade as a saddler for some time he got the gold fever, and spent several years on the goldfields of Castlemaine and Bendigo, but the news of the large fortunes to be made in New Zealand at Gabriel's Gully caused him to come to Otago, and lie arrived in the ship Boanergis in 1862. He worked for some time for the late Mr Charles Moore, and then became manager for the late Mr George Dowse, a position held by him for 20 years, until the business was taken over by the present proprietor, Mr Peter Miller. Mr Eyre started business on his own account, continuing until 1898, when he removed to Owaka, spending about 10 years there. For the last ten years he had lived in comparative retirement. He was married to Miss Rebecca E. Richards at Sydney in 1855, and Mr and Mrs Eyre celebrated their golden wedding on October 23, 1905, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Of the family of four sons and seven daughters all, with one exception, are still alive. The daughters are Mrs Stenhouse (Sydney). Mrs Morton (Melbourne). Mrs S. Vickery, Mrs G. West, Mrs C. Rowden (all of Christchurch), Mrs C H. Hayward, and Mrs H. Otto (Dunedin): the sons are Messrs M. W. Eyre, of P. Hayman and Co. (Auckland), and Charles and George Eyre (of Dunedin).  -Evening Star, 4/5/1912.

DEATHS.

EYRE. — On December 17, at the residence of her son-in-law (Mr George Pope), 15 Moreau street, St. Kilda, Rebecca, Elizabeth, relict of John Charles Eyre; aged 81 years. Private interment. — Hugh Gourley, undertaker.  -Otago Daily Times, 18/12/1916.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.