DROWNED IN HUTT RIVER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18195, 4 October 1924, Page 7

DROWNED IN HUTT RIVER.

SOUTHLAND RESIDENT'S TRAGIC END. (PftESS ASSOCIATION TILIGJLUt.) WELLINGTON, October 3. Frederick Charlton Mills, a member of the firm of.J. R. Mills and Co., Riverton, Otautau, and Invereargill, was drowned in the Hutt river last evening. Mills and a friend named Smith arrived in Wellington yesterday on their way to Sydney for a holiday. They went for a car drive into the country. The car. was stopped on the road near a high part of the riverbank to allow Mills to get out and go down, the bank, which was steep and dangerous. Those in the car heard a fall and a splash. It is presumed that Mills . tripped over the remains of a wire fence. Smith tried to get down, but was unable to do so. He saw Mills's body floating downstream, but when, it was recovered, Mills was dead. At'the inquest a verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. The Coroner drew attention to the dangerous condition of the road through the fence being down. (sfxcialj to "thx vaxsa.") INVERCARGILL, October 3. Quite a gloom was cast over the commercial and sporting community of Southland when the news was circulated to-day that Mr F. C. Mills had met iiis death by drowning on the eve of a trip to Australia with Mr J. Smith, of Orawia. Frederick Carlton Miils was born at Carlton .(Melbourne) in IS7I, being a son of the late John Robert Mills, the founder of the mercantile house of J• R. Mills and Sons. At an early age he'came to New Zealand with his parents, who settled at Riverton, where the present flourishing business was started by Mr Mills, sen. Frederick Mills was educated at the Riverton School and District High School, after which he entered, his father's business.' In 1897 his father took him into partnership. In later years Mr Mills had turned his attention to the auctioneering work of the firm with conspicuous success, his genial manner and popularity with all sections of the community making him ideally fitted for this class of work. "Everybody knows Fred. Mills," is a phrase which is an indication of the wide circle in which he moved, and it is only necessary to add that his sound business ability only surpassed by his wide sympathies and a generosity which had become proverbial. The late Mr Mills, who was a bachelor, was very keenly interested w sport, particularly in racing and football. For a number of years he was a member of the committee of the Riverton R-acing Club, on which he did good work, and for a few years was also an owner, the steeplechaser Wicklow racing in his colours. He was president of the Western District Rugby Football Sub-Union, and took a keen interest in cricket and bowling as well.