NOTABLE CAREER

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21423, 15 March 1935, Page 16

NOTABLE CAREER

BIRTHDAY OF MR H. COTTERILL LONG ASSOCIATION WITH CHRIST'S COLLEGE Mr Henry Cotterill, one of the city's best-known solicitors and citizens, will celebrate his eightieth birthday tomorrow. Mr Cotterill has spent a long and active life as a partner of the wellknown firm of Duncan, Cotterill and Company, and although he has reached an age when most men are well beyond taking any prominent part either in business or social life, he is still a very live partner in his firm and a busy citizen. There are not many men or women who can say that they were born 80 years ago in Canterbury and have lived in the province practically ever since. Nor can many of the oldest residents of Christchurch lay claim to having lived as interesting and active a life of 80 years as Mr Cotterill. He was born in Lyttelion in ]3s!>. His father was the Rev. Canon George Cotterill, who was a well-known man in the very earliest days of the Canterbury

settlement. Canon Cotterill came out to Canterbury in 1851. He was incumbent at Lyttelton and later at Sumner. For a few years he lived with his family in Heathcote as incumbent of that parish, and then in 1860 came uu to Christchurch (quite a pilgrimage in those days) to join the staff of Christ's College. Canon Cotterill was one of the first house masters at Christ's College, and his appointment began for the Cotterill family an association with the college which has been maintained ever since. Mr Henry Cotterill has himself played a notable part in the subsequent history and progress of the college. He was one of its most successful scholars, and became a member of the Board of Governors while his father was still a member, too. He is still on the board and has taken the keenest interest in the college. He was chairman of the finance committee of the board from 1907 to 1934 (in itself a notable record of service), and is a Fellow of the college. Scholastic Career Mr Cotterill attended Christ's College from 1864 to 1873, and while there became captain of the first eleven and of the first fifteen. Under the provincial system of education he became a Provincial Government Scholar from 1866-71, was Somes Scholar in 1871, and obtained a New Zealand University scholarship, being an undergraduate of the old Collegiate Union, which was actually the genesis of the present University College. With scholastic ability Mr Cotterill combined an active interest in sport. He was a very fine Rugby footballer, and one of the province's best cricket-

ted to the bar he entered practice with the firm in Christchurch and has practised here ever since. Other members of the firm with whom Mr Cotterill has been associated were also to become judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand—they were Mr Justice J. C. Martin and Sir Thomas Walter Stringer. Mr Cotterill has served a term as president of the Canterbury Law Society, and is one of the most notable men in the profession in the Dominion. When seen by a reporter from "The Press" last evening Mr Cotterill was modest about his achievements and his work. But it is likely that many of the older generation in the city will remember as well as his record as a solicitor, his splendid work at the time of the influenza epidemic of 1918, when, with a few prominent men in his profession, and others, he assisted in establishing an effective organisation for handling the relief of stricken families. It is probable that his work and that of the men and women closely associated in that effort saved the city I - om much more serious consequences if the scourge. The Early City The city has changed almost beyond recognition since Mr Cotterill came to live at Christ's College. He was brought, with his family from Heathrote in a bullock-dray. He was then live years of age. Christchurch was then, for the most part, a flax swamp, and the dray had to traverse many acres of flax swamp before it arrived on the banks of the Avon near the college. The swamp extended to where the White Hart hotel now stands in High street. There was one bridge over the Avon, at Armagh street, and the Cotterill family crossed this in the dray. Gloucester street was not much like a street then, Mr Cotterill said. That was 75 years ago, yet Mr Cotterill is in excellent health and still very actively engaged in his work. He is now showing a keen interest in the tiresent Mortgage Corporation legislation before the House, and is a member of the committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and the Canterbury Law Society which' is considering that, and similar legislation. ■ / i Mr Cotterill is also n keen student of literature and has one rather unusual literary record-—he ■ has been a subscriber of the Kugli.sh periodical, (he "Spectator." for 5(1 years, ttf tins a line and interesting library, particularly of standard works. In 1893 Mr Cotterill married Miss Adela Ronalds, and has two sons and one daughter. Mr L. D. Cotterill. who is in the firm with his father. Mr Guy Cotterill, the architect, and Miss Betty Cotterill.