Herman was born in 1872 in Ross, Westland. His father Rudolph Hirter who was born in Berne, Switzerland in 1827 and married Bertha Gutheil in Ross in 1866. She was from Duren in Germany. Rudolph was a storekeeper and appointed a Justice of the Peace. Bertha taught music.
Herman passed the Junior Civil Service Examination in 1891 and in 1892 was appointed a cadet in the Treasury. While living in Wellington, he was a member of the Working Men’s Club and often competed in chess matches. He played the piano for the St Paul’s church Christmas Fair at the Drillshed in 1894. And he served as the Hon. Secretary of the Rugby Football Club.
In 1895, Herman passed the senior Civil Service Examination. In May 1896, he requested permission for sick leave and also an application to transfer to Gisborne. Herman had also developed consumption (tuberculosis) and it was hoped that the climate of Gisborne would have benefitted his health. He was transferred to the Magistrate’s Court in Gisborne where he was an assistant clerk. In Gisborne he was a prominent member of the Chess Club and a member of the Orchestral Society.
In September 1897, Herman applied for a six weeks leave of absence from his job in the hope that he might be fit to return to his duties. But it was generally believed he was in the last stage of consumption. He visited Hokitika and wrote his Will there on 13th November. He came to Wellington and on 12th December he died at the residence of James Longton in George Street. He was 25 years old. His funeral departed the Longton’s at 2:30pm on 14th December for Karori Cemetery.
Herman left all of his money and property to his mother, with instruction that she could not draw more than £20 per year from the bank account he asked to set up for her. His estate was valued at £258 including £202 in a Policy of Insurance in Government Office. His funeral cost £15.
Hernan’s father Rudolph lived to the age of 90, dying in Ross in 1917.
Plot: *Ch Eng/N/3
By Julia Kennedy
