OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18668, 17 April 1926, Page 10

OBITUARY.

_ $ MR WILLIAM GIFKINS. The death occurred ao Ashburtoti on Saturday, of Mr William Gifkins, of Mount Somers, at the age of 75. Mr Gifkins was a native of Hertfordshire, England, and received his education there, coming to New Zealand 58 years ago in IS6B. Ho learned the trade of feliniongor and woolscourer at Green island, Otago, and later came to Canterbury erecting wooiscouring plants at various places, including Allord Station and Mount Hutt. In 1882 he bought a property in the Styx district, near Christchurch, aim established there an up-to-date fellmongery, and wool-scouring plant. In 1910 lie removed to Mount Somers where he carried on the same trade till his death. Mr Gifkins, who was a past Provincial Grand Master for Canterbury, was the founder of Lodge Erewhon, and recently was made an honorary lifemember. He was the first New Zealand initiate to attain the Master's Chair in the New Zealand Constitution, being elected to that office in .Lodge Concord in 1893. At one time lie was a member of the Papanui School Committee. The funeral took place at the Mount Somers Cemetery on Monday afternoon, part of the service being conducted at his residence. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. F. A. Tooley (Methven) and by Wor. Bio. W. J. S. Hood, W.M., Erewhon Lodge. There was a large attendance including representatives of Grand Lodge of New Zealand, Provincial Grand Lodge of Canterbury, Erewhon, Methven, South Rakaia, Thistle, Ashburton, Geraldine, Mackenzie, and Karanga Lodges. A very large number of floral tributes was brought to the graveside. Mr Gifkins leaves a wife, three sons and three daughters. A MARLBOROUGH PIONEER. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) BLENHEIM, April 16. The death occurred to-day, at his residence,. Rapaura, of Mr William GiffonL, one of Marlborough's.)oldest settlers, who had resided in tiie district for 68 years. The late Mr Gifford was a son of Mr Isaac Gifford, one pf the pioneer settlers of Nelson, and was born at Appleby, in the Nelson district, in 1848. When 26 years of age, the late Mr Gifford, in partnership with his brother Thomas, purchased a property at Spring Creek, and later bought out his brother's interest. He took a keen interest in public affairs, and was for many years a member of the local school committee, and a member of. the Spring Road Board and the Spring Creek River Board, while he was also actively associated with the Marlborough A. and P. Association and the Farmers' Union for a very long period. HAROLD SPENDER. (BY CABLI—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AMD R.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, April 15. The death is announced of Mr Harold Spender, the well-known author and journalist, aged 62. [The late Mr Spender, L.L.D. (Athens), F.R.G.S., was born at Bath in 1864. He was on the staff of the "Pall Mall 1891-93; ''Westminster Gazette," 1893-95; "Daily Chronicle," 1895-99; "Manchester Guardian," 1899-1900; and "Daily News," 1900-14. He was the author of many publications, short stories, and magazine articles.]