OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 18

OBITUARY.

MR PRANK HOOPER, Mr Frank Hooper, who died last week, was well known throughout Canterbury and various Dominion commercial circles. Born in Christchurch, Mr Hooper joined the Telegraph Department, but resigned after a short association with it to enter the drapery business, becoming a member of tlio staff of Mr J. D. Slater, then m business in Timaru. Messrs J. Ballantyno and Co., Ltd., purchased tho business and Mr Hooper bccamo associated with that firm. Transferred to the Christchurch business, he was placed in a responsible position, amongst his duties being that of Manchester buyer. .He was holding that positiou at the time of his death. Mr Hooper had been with the firm for over forty years and had only just returned from a business visit to England. Outside business circles, Mr Hooper was well known ill musical circles in Timaru, having been a member of the Timaru Liedertafel and Operatic Society under the conductorship of Mr Sidney Wolf. He was also a member of the Christchurch Savage Club. Possessing a fine bass voice, ho frequently was heard in cantatas and choirs as well as in operas. An ardent admirer of Shakespeare, he was a member of tho Timaru Shakespearean Debating Society. Mr Hooper was a great lover of birds, and as a hobby reared and exhibited canaries, winning many prizes with his exhibits. Highly esteemed, respected, and popular, Mr Hooper will bo remembered by a very wide circle of close friends to whom his sudden and unexpected death came as a great shock. His funeral was largely attended and the number of beautiful wreaths that covered the hearso and the many letters and telegrams ot regret and condolence received from many parts of the Dominion by his family were a striking testimony to the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. He is survived by his widow and a son, Mr Eric Hooper, a graduate of Lincoln College, now engaged in farming and a daughter, Miss Naare Hooper, who is well known as an elocutionist in Christchurch. MR ELIJAH SMART. The death occurred last evening, at his residence, Burke's Pass, South Canterbury, of Elijah Smart, one of the few remaining "Canterbury Pilgrims'' in the district. He was in his SOth year. Mr Smart arrived at Lyttelton on the ship Randolph on December 16th, 1850, when he was about four years of age. He "was one of a family of ten who all came out by that ship, and three of his seven brothers are still alive. Ho himself stated in 1927 that tho whole family had walked to Christchurch over the liills, his mother assisting tlicm over the steep places with a clothesline. He was at one time a guide in tho Mackenzie Country, and was in receipt of a pension from the Government for his services. He was interested in the activities of the Pilgrims' Association, and at the time of the visit of tho Duke of York, in March, 1927, he presented a stock-whip to his Royal Highness, after first demonstrating that he was still able to use and crack it. For some years past he had lived at Burke's Pass, South Canterbury. The three surviving brothers are Messrs Eli Smart, of Woodville, "William Smart, of Hastings, and Enos Smart, of Palmerston North. The funeral will take place at Burke's Pass to-morrow afternoon. MR. W. J. WATSON. Deep Tegret was felt throughout the Greendale district when news was received of th© death of Mr W. J. Watson, in the Lowisliam Hospital, recently, William John Watson was the fourth son of the late Mr Alexander Watson, of Oamaru, and was educated at tho Oamaru South School. On leaving school he worked for some years in Oamaru, and then removed to Kaikoura, where ho was for some years with his brother-in-law, Mr N. McGregor, in the storekeeping business. During the Great War ho saw active service in France with the 13th Company Canterbury Infantry and was severely wounded at the Battle of the Somme in 1918, following which he spent a lengthy period in hospital in England. On returning to New Zealand Mr Watson married the youngest daughter of the late Mr James Gray, of Kaikoura, and settled in Greenaalo in the beginning of 1920, when ho purchased the general store. The high eteem in which Mr Watson was held was shown by the large number of residents in Greendale who attended the funeral at the Bromley Cemetery A short service was held at the residence of Mr Gray, Riccarton, Mr Watson's brother-in-law, tho officiating minister being the Rev. D. K. Boyd, of Sheffield, after which the cortege left for the Bromley Cemtery, where the Kev. Mr Boyd read tho burial service. The pall-bearers were Messrs H. B. Shipley, T. Gough, C. E. Ridgen, J. Ruad, F. Gough, and W. A. Wilson, fellow members with Mr Watson in the tennis club and cricket club.

A large number of beautiful wreaths were received from the following: Sisters, Loving Wife, and Peggy, Dot and , family, Eve, Canmore, and Sandy, Neil, and Barbara, Jim, Mirrie and family, lteid, Don, and Betty, Ernie, Kate, and family, Janet and family, Sis and family, Aggie and Jack, Jessie, Bob, and' Norman, J. W. Lamb, Lila and Alf, J. Rattray and Sons, Itoyd Bros., and Kirk, J. H. Warren and family, Rev. and Mrs E. T. Jones, Mr and Mrs G. H. Ridgen and family, Mr and Mrs Batstone, Mr and Mrs H. U. Shipley and George. Mr and Mrs T. Gough and boys, Greendale Hockey Club, Mr and Mrs C. E. Ridgen, Mr and Mrs J. A. Adams and family, Mrs Gunn and Donald, Mr and Mrs W. A. McQueen, Mr and Mrs E. Ridgen and Joy, Mrs Mounsey and family, Mr and Mrs Sherrard and Mrs McAra, Mr and Mrs Worsfold, Florrie, Greendale Tennis Club, Irons family, Mr and Mrs Russell and family, Mr and Mrs C. H. Adams and family, and Mr and Mrs Lea and family. On Sunday evening the Rev. D. K. Bovd conducted a memorial service in memor" of Mr Watson, when the Baptist and Methodist denominations closed their churches and combined with the Presbyterian Church in the service, Mr Watson being a member of the Greendale Presbyterian Church.

MR W. S. FURBY. Mr W. S. Furby, Who died at Auckland a few days ago, aged 80 years, was formerly an officer of the Telegraph Department. He was stationed in various parts of the Dominion, and was district telegraph engineer at Auckland when he retired in 1911.