OBITUARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 23, 23 December 1932, Page 12

OBITUARY

BARON DE MEY D’ALKEMADE. Til© death occurred at the Palmerston North Hospital yesterday, alter a long illness, of Baron Jean Jacques de Mey d’Alkemade, aged 78, who was for many years supervisor of physical culture for the Wellington Education Board, also the N.Z. Permanent Artillery. Born at Lille, France, he was the eldest son of Baron Edward de Mey d’Alkemade, and a grandson of Baron General lan de Mey d’Alkemade, a French Royalist of Huguenot origin, who rendered political and military services to the Allied cause against Napoleon under the leadership of Prince William of Orange. For their services the family were granted an estate and a chateau in the Netherlands.

The late Baron was a graduate of Lille Military Lyceum Academy, Lille University, the Athaneum College, Brussels, and C'liatelet Military College, France, and was an expert swordsman, athlete and an accomplished linguist, being master of seven languages. The Swedish system of physical culture was first introduced into New Zealand by him.

The deceased gentleman came to New Zealand in December, 1879, from England by the barque Bebington, which carried many tons of explosives. Three days out from Plymouth, fire broke out, and after a strenuous task it was subdued, but not before many valuable papers belonging to him were destroyed. The late Baron took part in the Parihaka expedition in Taranaki to secure the arrest of Te Kooti. The training which Baron de Mey had undergone made him a very fine instructor in all matters pertaining to physical development.

For several years the deceased had been confined to his residence in Levin by paralysis, and recently was transferred to the Palmerston North Hospital. He is survived by one sister, Mrs Hooft, wife of Admiral Hooft, retired naval designer to the Netherlands Government. The Baron married Florence (who predeceased him nearly four mouths ago), the second daughter of the late Mr C. W. Moore, ecclesiastical architect and builder of Nelson. A family of six are left to mourn their loss. The heir to the title is Edward, of Sydney ; and the other members of the famly are Fabert (Sydney), Mrs Lake-Rosenberg (Auckland), Noel (Levin), Theodore (Levin) and Corneille (Auckland). MR SAMUEL FEAST. Mr Samuel Feast, whose death at the age of 67 years, occurred at Greytown this week, was one of the best known and highly respected settlers of the South Wairarapa. A son of a pioneer settler, the late Mr John Feast, he engaged in farming in various parts of the district, and in recent years had been living in retirement in Greytown. In his younger days ill- Feast was a good rifle shot, and an enthusiastic cricketer, and in later years was an active member of the Greytown Golf Club, and the Greytown Bowling Club. He also owned racehorses and trotters. His wife predeceased him in 1922, but he is survived by a grown up family, one of his dauglrters being Mrs J. Major, of Palmerston North. MR ROBERT McDONALD. Mr Robert McDonald, of Marton, whose sudden death was reported in the “Standard” yesterday, belonged to a family well known in Rangitikei, being a son of the late Mr J. J. McDonald, a former Mayor of Marton. Mr Robert McDonald, who was 62 vears of age, had lived in Marton practically all his life. He was a tailor by trade, but in late years had farmed a small property. He was for many years an active member of the Marton Band and was associated with the Foresters’ Lodge. He leaves a widow and family, consisting of two daughters, Mesdames Nicol and Horlock, and three sons, Messrs Robert, James and Hector.

MR JOHN MARTYN HUME. Mr Jo!m Martyn Hume, who died suddenly at his home at Oriental Bay, Wellington, on Wednesday night, was one of the best-known stockbrokers in the city, and vice-chairman of the Wellington Stock Exchange. He had not been very well during recent " months, but the state of his health occasioned no anxiety to his many friends, who were greatly shocked yesterday by. the news of his sudden death. The late Mr Martyn Hume was born 62 years ago at Ngaruawalria in the Waikato, and he was the son of the late Mr James Hume, first manager of the Bank of New Zealand in the Waikato district. He started his business career in 1888 as a lad with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., Ltd., at Hamilton. Later Mr Hume decided to enter business lor himself as a stockbroker, and he joined his brother in Auckland and founded the firm of Hume and Hume in 1896. This continued until 1899, when Mr Martyn Hume became a partner with the late Mr James Henderson, of Wellington, in the firm of Henderson and Hume, stockbrokers. In 1902 Mr Martyn Hume engaged in his profession on his own account. He was keenly interested in all outdoor sports, and wns a member of the Wellington Golf Club, the Wellington Racing Club, and the Wellesley Club. In his younger days he was an ardent football player being a member of the Pirates Football Club at Dunedin. The late Mr Hume was a director of several local companies, and was a member of the commission appointed to amend the Companies Act. Mr Hume was not married.

Owing to the death of Mr Hume, there was no call yesterday on the Wellington Stock Exchange, which closed at noon for the holidays. On the motion of the chairman, Mr E. Bncliolz, a vote of condolence with the relatives of Mr Hume was carried in silence. Mr Bucholz said the services rendered by Mr Ilumo to the Stock Exchange were great and invaluable.