OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR. R. F. BENNETT. The death has Occurred of Mr. Robert Francis (Butler) Bennett, eldest ,eon of ™-« !* Mr> ' J(>h « Bennett, of DevOHpoft. Well known in sporting circles, he Was very popular, and his widow and two, daughters have the sympathy of a larjsre circle of friends. Born at Devortport, he was educated, at the Devonport public school, and while still a lad he gave dence of his plucky character. Away back in 1897 a girl Was in danger in the water off Cheltenham Beach. Young Bennett pluckily dashed in, and, although he was much younger and lighter than the drowning girl, he succeeded, after a hard struggle, in getting her ashore, where she was resuscitated. The rescue earned the commendation of the Minister Of Education and the whole of the North .Shore, and at a public gathering at the school the boy was presented with a, desk to mark the appreciation of his brave act. He learned the trade of carpenter and builder and later went in for boat-building, for, like all Shore "boys," ho was keen on yachting and rowing, and won many trophies in both branches of sport- At one time lie was captain of the North Shore Rowing Club. When quite a young man he built the yacht Wairiki, which is still afloat and still winning races. During the Great War Mr. Bennett went away with the thirtysecond reinforcements and served with the engineers in Egypt and Palestine.