Langford, Walter, Undertaker and Embalmer, corner of the North and East Belts; Office at 133 Colombo Street, Christchurch. Mr Walter Langford is a son of Mr. J. A. Langford, who arrived in Wellington on the 22nd of January, 1840, by the sailing ship “Aurora,” which was the first passenger ship that came to New Zealand. Mr. Langford, senior, was a native of Birmingham, England, and shortly after his arrival he established the first undertaker's business in the colony. He afterwards removed to Auckland, and, while carrying on business there, he superintended the funeral of Captain Hobson, the first Governor of New Zealand. During the troublous time of Heke's war, Mr. Langford was pressed into the Militia. He subsequently established one of the first businesses in Auckland in partnership with Mr. James Stone, trading under the style of Langford and Stone, grain merchants. Mr. Walter Langford was born in Auckland, in 1849, and was educated at Nelson. He served an apprenticeship in that city as a builder, and afterwards started in business there. After his wife's death at Waimea West, he sold his business and travelled through the colony for some years. While in Wellington he married his second wife, Miss E. Rippen, and settled in Christchurch, where he established his present business in 1880. Since that time Mr. Langford has held a prominent position in his profession, always keeping abreast of the times. His plant is in every way thoroughly up-to-date, and consists of hearses, coaches, landaus, etc. His open car is of the latest pattern. Some years ago Mr. Langford visited Sydney, and went through a course of instruction, in the modern art of embalming, at the Medical School of the Sydney University, where he was the first New Zealander to obtain a certificate. Since then he has operated in a very large number of cases, with remarkable results. By the processes he employs the bodies are left unmutilated, with a life-like appearance, and decomposition is absolutely arrested for months, or years if required. Mr. Langford was the first to introduce the art of embalming into New Zealand. His establishment is thoroughly efficient in every department, and under his direction the last sad offices connected with the dead are reverently, yet thoroughly carried out in accordance with the most modern means and principles. Mr. Langford has been connected with the Masonic body for years, and is a member of Lodge Conyers, 1916. He is also a very old member of the Order of Oddfellows, and belongs to Lodge Loyal City of Christchurch. Mr. Langford has one son and four daughters.