OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19251, 5 March 1928, Page 8

OBITUARY.

HON. MARK COHEN, M.L.C. (press association telegram.) AUCKLAND', March 4. The death occurred night of the Hon. Mark Cohen, M.L.C., at the residence of his daughter. Deceased had been in failing health for some time. The funeral will take place at Dunedin. The late Mr Cohen, who was for more than a quartet of a century- editor of the "Evening Star," Dunedin, was born in London in November, 1849, and when four years of age arrived in Victoria. Ho was educated in Melbourne and Ballarat. In 1863, Mr Cohen arrived in Dunedin, whew Ue •was apprenticed to the sign writing and painting trade, under the late Mr Borthwick, afterwards entering Hie service of a legal firm of Messrs Ward and Laglilen, and whilst in this employment studied law. In 18(55, he joined the publishing department of the Otago "Daily Times," arid the following year entered the services of the late Mr AV. J. Hemmingliain, then proprietor of the "Evening Star. Soon after he was appointed to the reporting staff of that journal. In 1869 ho joined the "Sun," a morning newspaper, then under the editorship ot Sir Julius Vogel, with Mr Ebenezer Fox as chief of the reporting staff. The "Sun" ceased publication in 1869, when Mr Cohen returned to the staff of the "Evening Star" under Mr George BeU. Mr Cohen held successively the position of chief reporter and sub-editor, becoming editor in 1893, after the death of Mr Bell. For several years, he acted as Parliamentary reporter for his paper in Wellington, and was succeeded in this position by his brother, the late Mr Albert Cohen. Into his profession as a journalist, Mr Cohen brought to bear considerable natural, alertness which, combined as it was with literary taste in selecting and publishing the outstanding and most important events of the hour, caused him to be recognised as one of the leading journalists in the Dominion. In 1909, with Sir George Fenwick, then editormanager of the Otago "Daily Times," he was selected as one of the delegatus from Otago to the Imperial Press Conference in London. In addition to his strenuous life, Mr Cohen found time to devote sonic of his energy to public affairs. He took a keen interest in education, being successively a member of the Union street School Committee, a member of the executive of the Dunedin and Suburban Schools' Association, of which he was secretary, and later chairman. He was elected to the Education Board of Otago in 1896, and was chairman of that body from 1898 to 1899. He was also one of the founders of the Free Kindergarten Association, and assisted to establish the Technical Classes Association. He was elected to represent the Leith Ward in Dunedin City Council in 1888, and was again elected in 1890 and 1893. Among his varied interests Mr Cohen did not neglect sport, and when a young man was a prominent member of the Albion Cricket Club. Mr Cohen was called to the Upper House at the end of June, 1920, and at the close of that year severed his connexion with the "Star," to which he had given such distinguished service for a period of over fifty-five years. Mr Cohen travelled abroad since his retirement and in Honolulu he was stricken with a serious illness. After his return he was able to take up his duties in the Legislative Council, but operations he had to undergo weakened his vitality. He leaves two daughters and a son. SIR HERBERT BREWER. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z AND SUN CABLE.) LONDON, March 2. The death is announced of Sir Herbert Brewer, the distinguished musician who conducted the Gloucester Festivals from 1898 to 1925, and wrote much music for them, at the age of 63.