OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21686, 21 January 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR J. J. CLARK [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, January 20. Mr James John Clark died this morning after a long illness. The youngest son of the Rev. James Clark, who was a well-known minister of the Presbyterian Church, Mr Clark was 'born at Riverton, and when he was a few months old his parents moved to Palmerston, where he tqt mained for 25 years. In 1895 Mr Clark came to Dunedin, and lived in the city until the time of his death. For several years he

was engaged in commercial pursuits, after which he devoted a great deal of time to civic affairs. He first became a member of the city council in 1909. He was re-elected in 1911, and again in 1913. In 1915 he was elected

Mayor of the city after a triangular contest. At the conclusion of his two years' term of office, in response to a widely expressed desire, he offered himself for re-election. He was opposed by Mr Isaac Green, but was returned by 8571 votes 6179, and was the first person in Dunedin to hold the office of Mayor for four consecutive years. Immediately after the completion of his term as Mayor, Mr Clark was elected a member of the city council again, and after being out of the council from 1920 to 1923, was again a member until 1933. In addition to his work on the council, Mr Clark served on many public bodies, among which were the Dunedin Drainage Board, the!

Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Technical School Board of Governors, and the Ocean Beach Domain Board. He was a member of the Patriotic Association since its inception, and was its president while he held the office of Mayor, and subsequently its vicepresident. Until his death he was chairman of the Soldiers' and Dependents' Welfare Committee, which administers funds belonging to the Patriotic Association. His services in these capacities were recognised in the bestowal on him first of the honour of the Order of the British Empire, and later of that of Commander of the British Empire. He was also a member of the National War Funds Council. Mr Clark was well known as a strong supporter of all athletic pastimes, but his particular interest, although he was physically unable to take part in the game, was confined to cricket. His ser\»<r*s to cricket generally were recognised by his appointment for several years as president of the Otago Cricket Association, and at one stage as president of the New Zealand Cricket Council. Mr Clark was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being one of the founders of Lodge Haeremai, as well as belonging to Lodge Maori. He occupied several important offices in the New Zealand Grand Lodge, including that of grand master, which he held in 1929. In 1918, during the term of his second Mayoralty, Mr Clark was married to Miss Joy Mowat, by whom he is survived. MR E. C. PRENDERVILLE (PBES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, January 20. The death has occurred of Mr Edward Charles Prenderville, formerly a well-known Wellington Rugby player. He was a brother of Mr J. Prenderville. chairman of the Wellington Rugby Football Union, and a delegate to the recent Rugby conference in London.