OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21907, 7 October 1936, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR THOMAS COOPER

Mr Thomas Cooper, who died recently sit Rangiora, was "well known throughout' North Canterbury. Bom at Teddingtca, Banks Peninsula, in 1857, he was the fifth son of the late Mr and Mrs George Cooper, Of Cooper's Creek, West Oxford, and Leeston. Mr Cooper was an active member of the Northern (Rangiora) Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He belonged to the Orange Lodge at Southbridge and Rangiora, the Oddfellow's Lodge at Leeston, and the Rangiora Bowling Club, and in his younger days was a member of the Southbridge Cricket Chib. Mrs Cooper died 10 months ago. There is a family of two daughters, Mesdames T. Burt (Rangiora) and C. Ashworth (Leithfleld), and three sons* Messrs G. Cooper (Balcairn), R. Cooper (Sydney) and C. Cooper. Mr Ai Cooper (Rangiora) is a brother. At the funeral, the bearers were members of the Rangiora Bowling Club and OrUnge Lodge, .

MR JOHN MACPHERSON

[THE PRESS Special Service.]

OAMARU, October 6.

The death this morning of Mr John Macpherson, of Oamaru, and formerly of the Totara homestead. North Otago, has removed one of the most prominent of the pioneer settlers, and one who gave the district many years of useful pUblic service. ' Mr Macpherson was born on March 30.1850, at Strathtay, Perthshire, Scotland, and was educated by his father, Mr W. Macpherson, at Daniel Stewart’s free school, Strathtay. Before coming to New Zealand he was a surveyor, and managed the Cambrian slate quarries at Lianberis, North Wales. In 1876 Mr Macpherson arrived at Lyttelton by the ship DesdEmona, under an engagement to the New Zealand Land Company, and his first position was as manager of the Levels and Pareora estate, where he stayed for some time. He then went to Hakataramea to act as temporary manager on the company’s property there, and in 1877 was transferred to Totara. where he settled for a number of years. He also managed the Ardgowan property until it was acquired by the Government, in 1895, for closer settlement. The major portion of the Totara estate was also taken over, but Mr Mac’pherson acquired the homestead, and farmed it successfully until he disposed of it to live in Dunedin. However, a few years ago he returned to Oamaru. where he resided up to the time of his death. Mr Macpherson did a good deal of valuing for the Government. He was also one of the pioneers of the introduction of the Oamaru white Stone for building purposes, being associated with Messrs John Gay, Perry, and Speight in one of the first quarries at Totara. .

One of his most Important services to the whole of New Zealand was his close association with Mr Thomas Brydone and others in the establishment of the frozen njeat industry in New Zealand, The first shipment of frozen mutton was arranged by the New Zealand Land Company, from Totara, and was sent by the sailing ship Dunedin in 1881, followed by snipments from Totara between 1881 and 1800.

ME CHARLES GRAY

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

INVERCARGILL, October 6,

The death occurred this evening at the age of 76 of Mr Charles Gray, whose musical activities in Ihwercatgijl covered 50 years of Unbrokeft service. He was active in assisting local and visiting performers, and his studio was a centre for those interested in music. He was an authority on orchestral and choral work, and was organist at St. John’s Anglican Church for many years. He was also a successful conductor.

SIR PERCIVAL CLARKE

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.)

LONDON, October 5.

The death has occurred of Sir Percival Clarke, chairman of the London Sessions. He was 64 years of age. [Sir Percival Clarke, who was boril in 1872, was educated at Eton and studied for the law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A, in 1893. The next year he was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. He was later Senior Counsel to the Crown at the Central Criminal Court For the 10 years before he was appointed chairman of the County of London Sessions in 1932, he was Recorder of Exeter, and in 1925 he was a bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. During the Great War he served as a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, He was knighted in 1931.1