LATE MRS WITTY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 2

LATE MRS WITTY.

FUNERAL ON SATURDAY.

LARGE NUMBER OF MOURNERS. The affection and high respect in which the late Mrs Louisa Witty, wife 0 f the Hon. Mr "Witty, M.L.C., was held by all who came into contact with her, was shown on Saturday, when a large number of mourners paid their last respect to one whose kind and generous nature endeared her to aIL Mrs Witty was the eldest daughter of the late Mr George Wilkinson. She was born at Biecarton on March 17th, 1865, and vvaß educated at the Kiecarton and Templeton Schools. After the death of her father, the family removed to Kirwee, and later to West Melton, where she was organist at the Anglican Church for many years. She was married to Mr George Witty at Christchurch in February, 1886, taking up residence later at Drayton Farm, Templeton where they lived for 26 years. After leaving Templeton, Mr and Mrs Witty founded their home at Avonhead, where they have resided since. While always a friend and sympathiser with anyone in trouble, Mrs Witty gave no time to public life. Her interest was in her home life and in her many friends. She took a keen interest in the education of children, especially with regard to writing. A splendid writer and correspondent herself, she was always of the opinion that writing was a branch of child education that was much neglected. Unselfish in every respect, she was continually engaged in charitable work. When at Templeton, nearly every drover, as well as swaggers, called at the farm, and all were sure of a bed in the granary, a cup of tea, and something to eat, and a kindly word and smile. She leaves her husband, four sons, four daughters, and twelve grandchildren. The sons are Colin (Lees Valley), Tom, Charles, and Fred (Eiccarl ton); the daughters are Mrs G. Franks (Lyndhurst), Mrs A. Pope (Spreydon), Mrs C. Ellis (Upper Eiccarton), and Miss Witty.

The funeral was a very large one, many travelling long distances to be present. Over three hundred messages of sympathy were received from all over New Zealand. They included telegrams from the Speaker of the Legislative Council on behalf of the Council, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister (Et. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward), the Leader of the Opposition (the Et. Hon. Mr Coates), the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland), and from many members of both Houses.

The service was conducted by the Rev. H. T. Yorke, at the St. Peter's Churchyard, Ricearton, where the interment took place. The pall-bear-ers were the four sons of the late Mrs Witty, Messrs Tom, Charles, Fred, and Colin. Among the many mourners were: The Hon. Sir It. Heaton Rhodes, M.L.C., the Hon. Mr Moore, M.L.C., the Hon. Mr Smith, M.L.C., the Hon. Mr Buddo, Messrs H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., F. J. Carr, A. Drayton, W. Franks, W. J. Courtier, S. Blakeway, C. C. Harrow, H. Daniels, J. J. Keene (Ricearton School. Committee), B. O'Neill (N.Z. Newspapers, ; Ltd.), P. Drayton, F. A. Drayton, F. H Drayton, A. W. Drayton, G. W. Dray-1 ton, L. H. Drayton, E. E. Drayton, of Highsted, and A. Withers (Addington Trotting Ground staff), A. H. Gardiner, A. Rose, Superintendent M. Eales, Constable Cruickshank (Police Force), Messrs John Burrows, C. S. Burrows, Mt3 W. Grant, Mrs R. Rainey, Messrs R. W. Rainey, James Bailey, A. W. Owles, C. T. Middleton (New Brighton Borough Council), K. Lovell-Smitb, E. Hack, A. R. Kinimonth (chairman of Mr Witty's first Election Committee), Messrs R. Wallace and A. I. Rattray (Canterbury Park Trotting Club), H. J. Otley (Hospital and Drainage Boards), D. Kavanagh, A. O. Wellwood, J. T. Mitchell, J. J. Malley, T. Somerville, J. Mills, J. Prinsep, R. A. White (Postal Department), W. J. Diffin, W. Calder, G. Bailey, J. Leslie, and G. Maguinness (Paparua County Council), Mr and Mrs P. B. Drayton, Mr and Mrs G. Barker, Messrs J. Winny (Canterbury Park Trotting Club), G. F. and L| *S. Durey, W. Leslie, P. F. Ryan (Paparua County Council), Mrs W. Davis, Mr and Mrs J. Dryden, Messrs W. Murphy, R. Fraser, W. A. Smith, Mrs W. A. and Masters lan and Clifford Smith, Messrs John Wood (Christchurch Tramway Board), T. H. Davey, A. Morton, J. Stewart, J. McCormack, L. B. Johnson, F. Franks, P. V. Fraser, R. W. Franks, Free. Holmes', A.' McAulay, W. McDonald, J. A. Voice and i Mrs Voice, Messrs J. Rountree, J. F. and E. C. Ash worth (Master Butchers' Association), Mrs O. C. Crequer and Mr Crequer, jun., Messrs L. R. A. Cox, J. Gregory-Hunt (Federal Club), L. B. Manion and Mrs Manion (Weedons), Mrs J. Curragh and Mr Curragh, Mrs D. Wilson, Messrs J. H. Rhodes, J. | Wright, A. McKellar (Canterbury Sale- | yards Co.), J. Ainger, D. Edmonds, M. E. Lyons (A. and P. Association), T. O. Newnham (Waimairi County Council), W. Aitken and Mrs Aitken, Messrs D. Jones, M.P., W. R. Hockey, R. Vizer, W. F. Herrick (United Commercial Travellers' Association), Morgan O'Brien, T. Cuneen, R. Ryan, W. P., B. A., E. J., and F. W. Sisson, Mrs W. J. Walter, Mr and Mrs W. McLaughlin, Mr and Mrs R. W. Hamblin, Messrs T. Armstrong, M.P., J. G. Hawkins, C. Ellis, Mr and Mrs J. Beban, Mr and Mrs Hillier, Messrs E. Carleton, G. Bailey, Mr and Mrs G. Watson, Messrs C. E. Cross, G. S. Cowper, and R. J. McGee (Waimairi County Council), Mr and Mrs John Dwyer, Messrs W. Nidd and J. C. Wallace (Licensed Victuallers' Association), R. W» Hanna, T. Mayne, R. G. Thomas, T. E. Dench, H. Field (Postmaster, Port Levy), G. P. and G. A. Kissel, Mr and Mrs J. T. Sutton, Messrs A. and H. Manhire, H. Davies, ( F. L. Holland, P. D. McNab, A. R. Jordan (District Public Trustee), Mr and Mrs W. A. Smith, and Mr E. Spencer and daughter. Wreaths and floral tributes were sent by: The family, the Witty ;---andchildren, Air and Mrs C. J. „ones, Mr and Mrs G. W. Drayton, sen., Frank and Florrie, family of G. W. Drayton, jun., Aunt Jessie, Vera, her friend, A. Mac Donald, Freda and Horry, Marjorie Preston, Miss A Stark, Mrs Ellis and Mary, Mrs Wood. Mrs and the Misses Osborn, Mr and Mr 3 F. Durey and family, Mr and Mrs J. F. Carr, Mr and Airs F. Amor, Mr F. Sisson and family, Mr and Mrs J Muirhead (Aparima). Mr and Mrs A. McAulay, Mr and Mrs Percy Anderson, Dr. and Mrs Thaeker, Mr and Mrs K. A. Lovell-Smith. Sir Henry and Lady Wigram, Sir Heaton and Lady Rhodes, Mr and Ml-3 A W Wells, Mr and Mrs A. Biggs. Mr and Mrs J. C. Wallace, Mr and Mrs J A Holmes ('Huntley"), Mr and Mrs It." J. Mason and Percy, Mr and Mrs J Beban. Mr and Mrs E. Smith, Mr and U - Mr and Mnj Nidd, Mr and Mrs L. B. Manion, Mr and Mrs D. S. Anderson, Mr and Mrs E. G. McCullough, Mr and Mrs Arthur Rose. Mr and Mrs J. T Sutton Mr and Mrs H. J. Otlev, Mr and Mrs C. W. Herrey, Mr and Mrs Morgan O'Brien, Mr and Mrs J. Dwver Mr and Mrs Baylies, Mr A. McKellar' Mr J. Burrows and Mr and Mrs w' j Foster, Mr B. Bucknell and familv* Mr F Franks Mrs L. Clark and I —n **r T. RpTworthv and familv ;tfrs Johnson, Arthur, Ida, and Phyllis, Mr John Wood, Edward W. Pid-

geon, T. H. Davey, A. S. Ilattrav, J. F. Holmes and family, Mrs vs. Davis and sons Mr and Mrs J. Leslie and W. Leslie, Mr and Mrs E. Blakeway and sons, Gordon and Stanley, Mr A. S. Duncan, Mr Jas. Young. C. E. and E. Cross, engineer and staff of Waimakariri Eiver Trust, Stewart's Gully, chairman and members of Wr"makariri Eiver Trust, chairman, members, and staff of Paparua County Council, Canterbury Saleyards Company, Canterbury Park Trotting Club, Messrs Burke and Company, Ltd., New Brighton Trott" lg Club, Canterbury L.V.A., members of North Canterbury Provincial Council of Licensed , Trade, Metropolitan Trotting Club, Speaker and members of Legislative Council. Messrs Hicks, Ainger, and Twyford, Messrs Johnson and Smith, employees of Messrs Johnson and Smith, Leicester Matson and Son, staff of the National Electrical and Engineering Company, Ltd.

NEW BRIGHTON CRICKET CLUB. *

ANNUAL DANCE. The second annual dance of the New Brighton Cricket Club was held in Joyland Theatre and the adjoining hall on Saturday. The function was by far the most successful of its kind jet undertaken by the club The fine decorations upon which hours must have been ispent by an enthusiastic and hard-working committee were in the colours of the club, black and gold, relieved by multi-coloured streamers, blooms, and evergreens, the whole giving a most charming effect. There were over two hundred patrons, many coming from the City and suburbs, for whom late cars were provided for tho return home. The music for the dances was pleasingly provided by Mr B. Williams' orchestra, assisted by Mr Blogg, as pianist. Supper was provided by the committee and was supervised by Mrs H. Wilkins and lady assistants. Extras were played by Mr S. Shackle, while the duties of M.C. were carried out by Mr D. Jarvis. It is anticipated that the dance will show a profit of some £9.