OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20866, 27 May 1933, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MR HORATIO BOTTOMLEY. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELXCTHIO TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received May 27, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 26. The death has occurred of Mr Horatio Bottomley. Mrs Lowe, who was a lifelong friend of Mr Bottomley, says his death was hastened by the "cruel refusal" of the old age pension. The most sensational event in the extraordinary career of Horatio Bottomley was his conviction in 1922 on a charge of the fraudulent conversion of large sums invested by members of the public in the Victory Bond Club and other organisations, and his sentence to seven years' penal servitude. He was born on March 23, 1860. His uncle was George Jacob Holyoake, founder of the modern cooperative movement. He was educated at Birmingham, and started work with a firm of solicitors at the age of 14. About 1884 he started a small newspaper, the "Hackney Hansard" and other enterprises of a similar nature. These flourished, and he founded the "Financial Times," which indirectly led to the development o£ the famous Hansard Union. Trouble arose with the debenture holders of this enterprise, and Bottomley was prosecuted, but he successfully defended himself. Later he founded the Joint Stock Institute. He prospered, and by the middle 'nineties had become a magnate in the Western Australian gold-mining market and a very wealthy man.

At that time, in addition to his many financial interests, he was Liberal candidate for South Hackney, speculated in theatres, ran a successful racing stable, and attempted to revive the newspaper, the "Sun." Before there was time for this last enterprise to succeed his fortunes had begun to decline. Transactions involved by the Joint Stock Institute and its kindred organisations led to litigation, and in 1908 he was again prosecuted, and again he triumphed. In the meantime, he had been returned to Parliament, in 1906, as Liberal member for South Hackney, and in the same year he founded "John Bull," his most successful undertaking. In 1911 the failure of his finance companies and the costs of his lawsuits brought nim into ths bankruptcy court, and in 1912 he resigned his seat in Parliament. By the end of 1918, however, he had annulled his bankruptcy, and was returned to Parliament as an Independent, holding the seat until the time of his sentence in 1922. During the war he took the reci'uiting platform. It was for his actions concerning money subscribed by the public to the Victory Bond Cluo and other organisations that he was tried and sentenced in 1922. After the trial the House of Commons passed a motion expelling him. He was realeased from Maidstone gaol on July 29, 1927, after serving a little more than five years of the sentence.

MR J. HUTCHISON. Mr John Hutchison, who died on Wednesday evening at Timaru after a short illness, was one of the town's most respected business men, and a prominent figure in the community.

Mr Hutchison was a native of Aberdeenshire, being born in Hatton 66 years ago. After leaving school he served his apprenticeship at the baking trade in his native town. He then went to London, where he found employment at his trade, but after a few years he once more returned to Scotland, where | he worked as a baker for a number of years. Attracted by the prospect of life overseas, Mr Hutchison emigrated to New Zealand at the age of 25, and landed at Dunedin in January, 1892. His first position in the ! Dominion was as a baker with the late Mr Fea, father of Dr. W. R. | Fea, of Timaru, at Maheno. A little later Mr Hutchison launched out in business on his own account at Palmerston South, and after ing up a good trade there SI disposed of his interests and went to Dunedin, where he acquired two bakery establishments and conducted them for some time. Going to Timaru about 34 years ago, Mr Hutchison purchased a bakery establishment, and opened up business on a large scale as a baker and pastrycook. He later increased the scope of his enterprise by acquiring Young's bakery and another in High street, besides the Arcade Cafe, an 3 at one time was employing 40 persons. Four years ago he disposed of his business in Stafford street, and since then has been prominent in the establishment of a number of commercial enterprises. He, in company with Mr J. R. Bruce, was the originator of the flour mill of J. R. Bruce, Ltd. His last venture was the establishment of an ice cream cone factory at the company's premises at the corner of Cannon and Sophia streets, in which he maintained an active interest until his death. Mr Hutchison was an ardent worker for the Presbyterian Church in Timaru. He served as an elder of Chalmers Presbyterian Church for a long period and latterly was an elder of Trinity Presbyterian Church. His greatest interest lay in the welfare of orphaned children and for many years he served as treasurer of the Presbyterian Children's Home, retaining this position and an active interest in the institution until the time of his death. Mr Hutchison was a prominent Freemason, being a member of Lodge Koranga and also a member of the Oddfellows' Lodge. He is survived by his wife and a brother, Mr A. Hutchison, Christchurch, and a sister, Mrs O. Feeney, Timaru. The funeral took place privately at the Timaru Cemetery yesterday, the service at the house and the graveside being conducted by the Rev. A. J. H. Dow. . Reference to the death of Mr Hutchison was made by the Chief, Mr A. M. Miller, at the concert of the Timaru Scottish Society on Thursday evening. As a mark of respect, all present stood in silence, and Piper D. McAteer played the lament, "Flowers of the Forest."