Illustrious businessman dies

The death occurred at Wellington yesterday of Mr James Samson, for many years a well-known and highly-respected resident of Dunedin. Mr Samson, who was nearly 85 years of age, was born at Ochiltree, Ayrshire, Scotland, and came out to New Zealand in the early ’sixties. A tailor by trade, the deceased first went to Melbourne and was subsequently attracted to New Zealand by the gold rushes. After spending some time on the West Coast, he went to Central Otago, and later opened stores at numerous townships there, including the first drapery shop in Naseby. At one time he was Mayor of Alexandra, and was to a large extent responsible for the formation of the Alexandra Brass Band. He was largely instrumental in having the Alexandra bridge erected. He was one of the best-known of the "old school" in Central Otago. In 1879 Mr Samson came to Dunedin and established an auctioneering firm in George street. Later he opened the rooms in Dowling street which are now owned by his son and carried on under the style of Messrs J.M. Samson and Co. The deceased was a member of the local Caledonian Society and worked indefatigably in its interests, grudging neither time nor money in his aim. He was president in 1901. On receiving information yesterday of his death, the society immediately telegraphed to Christchurch, arranging for a wreath to be sent on its behalf to the funeral, which will take place there tomorrow. Mr Samson, who has spent the last few years in private life in Christchurch, was predeceased by his wife by two or three years. His three sons are Messrs J.R. Samson (Director of Repatriation), J.M. Samson (auctioneer, Dunedin), and W.W. Samson (Registrar of the Supreme Court, Dunedin).

Noted archaeologist dies

London, April 5: Lord Carnarvon died at 2 o’clock this morning. He was conscious till near the end. George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, was born on June 26, 1866. He was an ardent Egyptologist and spent several seasons in excavation work in Egypt before he made his wonderful discovery — the Tomb of Tutankhamen. The scene of their search for the hidden treasure of 5000 years ago was thus described by Lord Carnarvon himself: "On the edge of the cultivation on the western bank of the Nile, and extending for some five miles in length and about a mile and a-quarter in depth, lies the Necropolis of ancient Thebes. Here the arid plain and foothills are everywhere dotted with burial pits. This is the Valley of the Kings. Lord Carnarvon was seriously ill in Egypt. He was suffering from blood poisoning which, it was alleged, was due to a mosquito bite.

Emblem evokes original Cross

At a meeting of the Otago Officers’ Club, the Rev D. Dutton spoke on "Under the Red Cross in War Time." The Red Cross was the symbol of all the operations that were employed for the help of the sick and wounded in the ravages of war. It was the grand emblem under which were the doctors, nurses, chaplains, hospital orderlies, stretcher-bearers, the Red Cross Society, St John’s Ambulance Association and the Voluntary Aid Detachments. The Red Cross was a symbol which was related to the other, the original Red Cross — the Cross of Calvary. To countless thousands  the Red Cross was the Divine symbol of help and solace.

High beam puts bus in ditch

On Wednesday night, as Hobbs’s Brighton bus was homeward bound, it ran off the road on the flat. It was stated that an approaching car did not dim the headlights, and Mr Hobbs, being partially blinded, steered rather far over. The only passengers were two schoolgirls, who were considerably scared.

Loves nail another contract

In connection with the development of the Midland railway and the opening at an early date of the Otira tunnel, the Government is continuing to provide housing accommodation for the additional staff required. Messrs Love Bros, of Port Chalmers, have been doing a lot of house building for the Railway and Public Works departments, and this firm has secured a further contract for a number of houses at Springfield, the price being in the vicinity of £10,000. — ODT, 6.4.1923

Compiled by Peter Dowden