OBITUARY

THE REV. G. A. TOBIN

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, April 11,

A clergyman of the Anglican Church from 1886 until 1937, when he retired from the cure of Burwood, the Rev. Cecil Alexander Tobin died early yesterday morning after a short illness. He was in his eighty-second year. Mr. Tobin, who was born at Exmouth, England, came of a long line of army and naval officers. He was the youngest son of Captain G. W. Tobin, of the 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment, and was educated at King Alfred's School, Wantage, Berkshire. Coming to New Zealand in 1878, be took up teaching among Maoris in the Kaipara district and for a time he lived in what was known as the "forbidden territory," which no white man was allowed to enter. He was later first master at Auckland Grammar School. Mr. Tobin studied at St. John's Theological College, Auckland, for the Anglican ministry, and was ordained deacon in 1886 and priest in 1888. He was vicar of'Paparoa, North Auckland, from 1886 to 1892, Amberley from 1892 to 1910, and Burwood from 1910 to 1937. When he was vicar of Paparoa, the parish covered an area of 900 square miles, and during his five years there he covered 15,448 miles; on horseback. He also had the unusual experience of serving for a short term under two bishops—the Bishop of Christchurch and the Bishop of Nelson —when he was vicar of Amberley. The parish in those days covered 400 square miles, the most northerly point being the -Hururiui River, which was in the diocese of the Bishop of Nelson.

Mr. Tobin spoke fluent Maori and Welsh, having learnt the latter language before he came to New Zealand. He married Sarah Elisabeth, daughter of Mr. John Brown, Limerick, Ireland, in 1890. She died in 1930. He is survived by three daughters and two sons, Mesdames A. C. Purchas (Rangiora), Heathcote Garland (Christchurch). and John Butler (London), and Messrs. J. O'Hara Tobin (Christchurch) and G. F. Tobin (Invercargill). There are 14 grandchildren. Mr. Tobin's twin brother, Colonel F. J. Tobin, D.5.0., lives in Devonshire.