OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 238, 7 October 1932, Page 13

OBITUARY.

COMMISSIONER H. C. HODDER, 0.8. E. A cable from U.S.A. announcing the death of Commissioner H. C. Hodder at Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, will be received with regret by thousands of people throughout the Dominion. The commissioner passed quietly away on Wednesday, September 28, after some six years of retirement from active service, necessitated by ill health. Commissioner Hodder was appointed to the charge of the Salvation Army work in New Zealand in 1914 and held the command till 1922. This covered the whole period of the Great War. He organised the Salvation Army work in the New Zealand military camps in New Zealand, England, Egypt, and France. The institutes proved a source of comfort to the soldiers and relatives, and naturally made the commissioner well known and popular throughout the Dominion. His Majesty the King recognised his services to the Empire by conferring upon him the honour of Officer of the British Empire. \ Commissioner Hodder was appointed to Canada from New Zealand, but unfortunately his . health broke down, necessitating his retirement. He is survived by his wife and six children, all of whom are in America with the exception of one daughter, Mrs. H. N. Toomer, who resides at Nelson, New Zealand. MR. GEORGE FLUX. Mr. George Flux, who died at Te Kuiti on September 5 after a severe operation, was for many years a well-known headmaster at South Wellington School. He camo to New Zealand for his health when quite a young man, after going i through varied experiences in the Old Country, including a. position as tutor in the famous Dartmoor prison. Speaking as late as June last of his experiences there, lie said he had met within tlio prison walls some of the keenest intellects that had ever crossed his path. Under other conditions some of them might have become world leaders. Much of the poetry made up at Dartmoor had been to him a lifelong treasure, and he had often repeated it down through the years as some of the sweetest music in our language. He had hoped before he died to put into book form much about his experiences at Dartmoor, but the wish has been unfulfilled. With renewed health in this new country Mr. Flux's restless activity and keen mental vigour soon found many outlets in the southern capital. Not only was he a fine disciplinarian, but he was a good judge of character, and studied the different aptitudes of his pupils, and this led to continued success in his work. He was a lay reader in the Anglican Church. At. public demonstrations, because of his patriotism, he was often a favourite speaker. He lived till he was over 80 years of age, and for the last 15 years had lived in the backblocks of the King Country, pioneering and loving the free country life. He cultivated with his own hands some of the finest gardens outback, and when he came to Te Kuiti four years ago he took no rest till he had one of the finest | gardens in the country. He was twice married, and is survived by Mrs. Flux and a large number of children and grandchildren. Mrs. Flux entered fully into his many-sided activities, and it could be well said of him that few men had lived so full a life.