OBITUARY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14988, 8 June 1914, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN HOPPER.

The death of Mr John Hopper, which took place last week, at his residence, Dickens si-rect, Addington, has removed ono more.of the old settlers of Canterbury. Ho was born at Bishop Auckland, in Durham, "England, in 1840; but after serving an apprenticeship to cabinet-making and then.marrying, he left Leeds for New Zealand, arriving hero by. the ship William Miles, in 1864. For a time he took up farm work; then ho bought the Lincoln Road Bakery, which ho earned on until his retirement from business in 1907. The full extent of his quiet benevolence will never be known. Many a family in Straus found him a friend indeed. For a long poriod bo provided the bread supply for the Female Refuge, and his generosity continued until tho institution was taken over by the Governments But all causes deserving c help received his ready support. For throe years ho was an active councillor of the newly-formed Borough of Sydenham. He, however, had no ambition for prominence in public life, and only undertook such duties from • a strong sense of duty. It was this motive along that forced him into accepting a position on the Sydenham Licensing Committee, when the electors of tho borough returned a majority pledged to refuse licenses for the salo of liquor, and he shared those strenuous times with Messrs'Beattie, Smith, and L. M... Isitt. Mr Hopper W3s an enthusiastic crickoter. and forty years ago was captain of the Sunnyside Club. He was 'a member of tho Selwyn street Methodist Church, and it was suggested to him to stnrt a club for tho young men of tho U.M.F.' churches. This originated the Hadloy Oak C.C. After a year or two-, reorganisation brought into existence the Addington C.C. In both clubs the offices of president and captain wero lield by Mr Hopper. Mr Hopper loaves a widow, but no family. A memorial service was he!d in the Selwyn street - Methodist' Church last night.