OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21987, 11 January 1937, Page 4

OBITUARY

DR. W. E. STEVENS After an illness lasting three weeks, Dr. William Edward Stevens, of New Brighton, died in St. George's Hospital on Saturday morning, at the age of 75 years. A few days before his death, Dr. Stevens had made very satisfactory progress, and it was expected that he would return to his home shortly, but on Wednesday, he became ill again and did not recover. ' . In spite of his age, Dr. Stevens had never given up his practice, although he intended to retire shortly. His devotion to his work, and the way in which he did it, earned him the respect and admiration of all whom he served and his long association with the borough made him one of New Brighton's best known citizens. Dr. Stevens will be remembered as a gentleman of great charity. He worked indefatigably for poor and unemployed members of the community, and the aged, often without remuneration. To these his death was a severe The' son of a gold-beater of Bristol, England, and a brother of the late Mr H. F. Stevens, of Christchurch, Dr. Stevens was born on February 11, 1861, He was educated in Bristol, and_ later took the degrees M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. London! When, in 1891, he came to New Zealand, he spent some time in the Auckland province before settling in practice at Kurow, North Otago, and while there married Miss Edith Thiele, who lived in that district. In 1911, he decided to remove to New Brighton, and he had lived there since. Dr. Stevens took a keen interest in civic and social affairs, and his opinions arid advice were always respected. His home and gardens in Lonsdale street have always been one of the beauty spots of the borough, and last year won the New Brighton Home Gardens and Beautifying Association's Challenge Cup. In the early days of Kurow, Dr. Stevens founded the first library, and the first school committee, on both of which he served for many years. He was also a keen huntsman, and took a keen interest in the Kurow Jockey Club, of which, at one stage, he was president. His horse. Booties, was a well-known winner.

While he was at Kurow, also, Dr. Stevens made a journey, which is still spoken of often in the district. In the winter of 1903, a very bad snowstorm swept the Mackenzie Country and surrounding districts, and at 3 o'clock in the morning Dr. Stevens was called to the Glenlyon station 76 miles away, and in the district where the storm was at its worst. Dr. Stevens set out on horseback and had to travel the last 12 miles on foot. The track was obliterated, and sometimes the snow was up to the arm-pits. Sometimes, too, a path had to be dug through the deep snow drifts. For 15 years, Dr. Stevens had been the owner of a sheep run in Timaru, where he intended to retire. The farm is managed by two of his sons. When Mayor of New Brighton, Mr F. Kibblewhite presented Dr. Stevens with an inscribed gold watch and chain as a token of the esteem in which ho was held by the residents, and last year he was presented with a medal and seven bars, representing his 22J years' service as honorary surgeon to the New Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade. Dr. Stevens was one of the honoured guests at the fortieth anniversary celebrations of the Borough of New Brighton, held last year. Dr. Stevens is survived by his wife, Mrs D. E. Currie (wife of Dr. Currie), Christchurch; Mrs D. K. Kerr, Timaru; Miss Dorothy Stevens, New Brighton, and Messrs J. E. and M. Stevens, Timaru and F. S. Stevens, Auckland. There are several grandchildren. THE FUNERAL -.-t j • . J — — The many hundreds from all parts of Canterbury and other districts who attended the funeral of Dr. Stevens at the Burwood Churchyard yesterday afternoon provided evidence of the respect in which Dr. Stevens was held. The cortege extended well over a mile, and traffic was held up temporarily at the New Brighton and Bower bridges. Many motor-cars awaited the arrival of the procession at the churchyard. \ The Rev. Tremayne M. Curnow, of Kaiapoi, conducted a short service at the house in Lonsdale street, after which the New Brighton Municipal Band, under Conductor J. A. Nuttall, played the hymn, "Abide With Me." Organisations which paraded in uniform were the New Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade and the New Brighton Men's Ambulance Division and Women's Nursing Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. At the church and the graveyard the services*were taken jointly by the Rev. C. A. Tobin, vicar of All Saints', Burwood, and Mr Curnow, these being followed by a. Masonic service conducted by Worshipful Master Bro. F. D. Clark, Lodge Brighton 236. The pall-bearers were Messrs J. E. Stevens, F. S. Stevens, and M. Stevens (sons), Dr. L. A. Bennett, Dr. Stewart Hunter, and Mr L. W. Hudson. Floral tributes were sent by the following:—Canterbury branch, British Medical Association; Dr. and Mrs L. A. Bennett; Dr. and Mrs Stanley Foster; Dr, and Mrs Arthur Pearson and family; Dr. and Mrs W. T. Glasgow; St. John Ambulance, Christchurch; officers and members, New Brighton Nursing Division, St. John Ambulance; Mayor, councillors, and staff, New Brighton Borough Council; Mayor and Mayoress; Worshipful Master and brethren, Lodge New Brighton; New Brighton Bowling Club; New Brighton Surf Club; New Brighton Returned Soldiers' Association; members, New Brighton Fire Brigade; New Brighton Business Men's Association; Superintendent and Mrs W. H. Stokes; Dr. and Mrs D. E. Currie; Douglas, Louie, and the three boys; Aunt Janet, Mabel, and Cecil; Helen and Arthur Munro; Walter Cameron and family; Jack and Maggie Cameron and family; Mary and Preston Cameron; Ted and Ethel Cameron; Gordon and Minnie Stevens; Les. and Doris Stevens; Lance and Esma Stevens; Charles and Betty Stevens; Kitty and Les. Ruddle; Jim Stevens and Joyce; Corbetts and Camerons; Mr and Mrs Jack Simpson; Mr Frank Aldridge; Miss Phyllis Broadhurst; Mr and Mrs Basil SethSmith; Mr and Mrs L. W. Hudson arid family; Mr and Mrs Charles Hockley and family; Mr, Mrs, and Miss Novis: Mrs Drummond-Hay and Annette; Mr Keith Royds; Mr and Mrs Stewart Gibb; Mr and Mrs George Thompson and family; Colonel A. E. Loach; Mr and 'Mrs Mellish; Mr and Mrs Charlie Rides and Mrs Rides, sen.; Mr Tilleyshort and family; Mr and Mrs Hooker and family; Mr and Mrs Walter Drake and Zena Hollis; Mr and Mrs R. A. Dixon and family; Mr T. A. Jbynt; Mr and Mrs A. Branch and family; Mrs J. R. Price and family; Mr and Mrs J. C. Hampton; Bishop and Boon families; Mr and Mrs John Shaw; Miss Sadie Foster; Mr and Mrs Flood and Mr and Mrs Robinson and Freda; Mrs Rainton and family; Mesdames Bowbyes and Opie; Mr and Mrs Burrows and Mame; Mr. and Mrs Skinner and Neva; Mr and Mrs Hunt and Olive; Mr and Mrs Ralph Stringer and family; Mrs Winny and family; Mr and Mrs E. W. Christiansen; Mr and Mrs Throp and Ngaire; Nell and Don Levack; Nora Bates; Mr and Mrs W. M. MacWhirter; Mr and Mrs Aleq Dey; Mr and Mrs John Bradley; Loney and Alice Tait: Mr and Mrs C. C. Taylor; Mr and Mrs Graham; Mr and Mrs L. W. Besley; Misses Mcintosh and Grace; Mrs Barnett and Olive; Mrs and Miss Turpin; Mrs M. Turner and Mrs Watson; Mr and Mrs McGillivray and family; Mr L. A. Turner; Misses N.ovis; Miss McPherson asd Mr McPherson; Mr and Mrs Lorgelly; C. J. Wilson; Mr and Mrs Johnson; and Mr and Mrs Herb. Knight and family. Those w ho attended the funeral ineluded Dr. and Mrs D. E. Currie, Sir Hugh Acland, Dr. Stanley Foster, Dr. J. F. Duncan, Dr. J. Leslie Will, Mr E, B. Diehl (president North Beach

Tennis Club), and Mrs DiehL Mr A.! Florance (chairman North New Brighton School Committee), Mr W. J. Walter (Christchurch Tramway Board) and Mrs Walter, Messrs J. C. Hampton and S. Hampton, Mr and • Mrs T. Broadbelt, Reg. and R. Broadbelt, Messrs C. E. Evans (immediate past president New Brighton Bowling Club), H. E. Evans, Gordon Evans, A. R.. Cutler, Superintendent W. H. Stokes, Deputy-Superintendent C. H. Stokes, Junior Foreman Peters, Branchman Peters, Station Officer Mather, Firemen L. Scott, W. Sparks, F. West, G. Mather, G. J. Thompson, iA. Cockle; W. Sherwood and J. B. Gott (New Brighton Volunteer Fire Brigade), Dr. L. A. Bennett, Dr. S. Hunter (British Medical Association), Mr R. Parker (North New Brighton School Committee) and Mrs Parker, Mrs A. Florance (North New Brighton Women's Christian Temperance Union), Mr and Mrs J. Simpson, Mrs S. Denton, Mr J. R. C. Robertson, Mr W. J. Larcombe (Loyal Addington Lodge, M.U.; 1.0.0. F.), Major H. H. Browne, Mr and Mrs D. S. Middleton, Mr Stuart Middleton (Cromwell), Mr W. F. Herrick (editor-manager "New Zealand Traveller"), Mr and Mrs J. H. Coddington, Mr H. E. Gott (New Brighton Boy Scout Committee), Mr and Mrs F. Flood, Mr R. L. Robinson (South New Brighton Tennis Club), Messrs-N. O. Stevens and H. J. N. Stevens, L. C. Matson, A. T. F. Stokes, and J. G. Gowan (Committee New Brighton Surf Bathing and Life-Saving Club), J. W. Lovell (Rawhiti Golt Club), E. W. Christiansen and D. A. Tait, Mr and Mrs C. S. Stevens and family, Mr and Mrs L. W. Ruddle and \ family, Mr and Mrs Moor, Mr R. L. I McCormack. Major W. E. S. Furby, Messrs P. Mercus, B. H. Dean and J. W. Hull (New Brighton Horticultural Society), J. T. Dickie (Aranui Burgesses' Association), Mrs A. L. Bishop (Lady District Superintendent St. John Ambulance Association)» Mr P. A. Wentworth (Corps Superintendent), Mr I. O. Barr and Miss R. Ferguson (Corps Officers), Mrs E. S. Collard (Lady Superintendent), and members of New Brighton Nursing Division St. John Ambulance Brigade, Messrs Joseph Buxton, Russell Buxton, Joseph Cane, J. R. Scott, A. C. Penny, J. C. Price, F. R. Price, W. J. McKenzie, G. V. Bolton, D. A. Clarke (president New Brighton Business Men's Association), T. Reddington, Misses C. M. Innes and E. E. Innes, Messrs C. W. Hardy, F. C. Innes, A. M. Chivers, L. W. Besley (president New Brighton Bowling Club), the Rev. Father 'l. O'Regan (Roman Catholic Church), Sergeant A. McCarthy (New Brighton Police), Mr and Mrs Frank Holden and Miss Mavis Holden, Mrs C. J. Walker, Messrs F. W. Burrows, T. Robins, A. H. Robins, H. J. Robins, Rev. J. D. Dann, Messrs George Thompson, L. G. Thompson, W. M. MacWhirter, the Misses Sadler, Messrs Sadler (2), A. Parsonage, F. Parsonage, Mrs H. Parsonage, the Mayor ana Mayoress of New Brighton (Mr and Mrs E. L. Smith), Crs. J. S. Ainsworth, C. V. Lester, A. W. Owles, and W. T. Glasgow (De'puty-Mayor), Messrs W. Drake, W. Larcombe, F. Muirson, S. Wroth (New Brighton Cricket Club), W. R. Fitchett, F. E. W. Hobbs (St. Faith's Young Men's Club), E. A. Bendall,. K, A. Bendall, and E. E. Bendall, C. T. Middleton (Town Clerk, New Brighton), Mr and Mrs C. Chapman and Miss Joan Chapman, Mesdames W. Wh'tely and E. Kershaw, Mr and Mrs P. K. Rondel, Messrs C. P. Rondel. P. Martin, and G. Hall, Mesdames A. P. Diehl, C. Diehl. and C. E. Diehl, Mr and Mrs C. J. Wilson and Miss Ida Wilson, Messrs H. M. Hall, L. J. Manson, Mr and Mrs W. -McNair, Mr and Mrs A. M. Branch, Mr and Mrs B. Seth-Smith, Mr and Mrs W. Hulme. Mr and Mrs French, Messrs L. W. Hudson, L. N. Hudson, A. R. Watson, F. Blunt. C. F. Henry, R. E. Holloway, J. Orsborn, Alec Dey, B. A. Miles, J. Ironside (Waimairi Surf Club). H. Throp (New Brighton Surf Club), Mr and Mrs S. B. Gibb, Mr and Mrs Noonan, Messrs W. Carpenter, I. Cowan (Canterbury Masonic Lodge), J. Bowden, G. Larcombe, H. Larcombe, F. E. Larcombe, I. Vallance, and D. Vallance; R. J. Rainey and D. Kennedy (staff. New Brighton District High School), C. E. Wroth, Dr. Hayes, Mr and Mrs Margetts, Mrs P. Trolove, Mr C. C. Taylor, Mr and Mrs Frank Thompson, Mr and Mrs F. Stubley and Mr G. Stubley, Mr and Mrs Robert Stevens, Messrs F. D. Clark, F. H. Nelson, and T. R. Hanria (Lodge Brighton), J. H. Bradshaw, Mrs W. Fisher, Mr F. W. Larcombe (secretary, South New Brighton Progress League), Mr and Mrs N. McGillivray, Mr and Mrs J. P. Williams, Mr William Smith, Messrs A. Nesbitt (president), F. Green, J. Boyd, T. Quaid. F. Rouse, F. O. Ormandy, A. Cotton (New Brighton sub-branch Returned Soldiers' Association), Mr and Mrs John Parkinson, Mr and Mrs F. Turner, Mr and Mrs R. A. Dixon, Mr and Mrs J. T. Law and Master T. Law, Mrs H. Mawson, Mr and Mrs D. McClintock, Messrs P. Skinner, W. WhiteJy. F. Ward, and G. Treleaven, A. E. Donohue (New Brighton Amateur Athletic Club), E. W. Stevens, F. Mitchell, G. S. Franklin (North Beach Progress League). Mrs J. Bathgate, Mr W. H. Browne, Mr and Mrs L. Palmer. Dr. R. H. Quentin Baxter, Messrs C. W. Lester "(Lodge Doric), Mrs H. Knight, Messrs B. Knight, H. S. Mitchell, W. T. Hobbs (New Brighton Miniature Rifle Club), S. J. Bargrove, H. Palk, H. N. Hawker, W. Watts, and H. Watts, Mr and Mrs H. Lorelly, Mr J. Cunningham, Mr and Mrs A. Farrier, Messrs W. E. H. Butcher, E. Jones, A. H. Frame, C. Hockley, G. W. Hockley, M. C. Hockley, G. E. Rowlands, T. A. Joynt, D. N. Adams, Mesdames G. R. King and S. A. Gabb, Mr and Mrs J. H. Coates, Mr and Mrs J. G. Leahy, Mrs G. Collins, Messrs T. J. Ballantine, J. Stackhouse and O. V. Bergh, Mr and Mrs S. L. Boyd, Mr.and Mrs J, O'Neill, Miss Ford, Mr and Mrs G. Cattermole, Miss E. Hawker, Messrs S. Hawker, L. C. Banks, Mr and Mrs F. Ryan, Mr and Mrs Steve Stevens, Mr and Mrs D. A. Roberts, Misses M. Hawker and J. Hawker, Mesdames C. E. Ellis, L. Kinney, Messrs J. F. Grierson, L. Rapley, C. V. Sawtell, R. Camp'bell, J. Sands (North New Brighton School Committee), Mrs H. D. Pine and Miss E. Pine. Mr G. F. Allen (Masonic Grand and Mrs Allen, Mr and Mrs H. L. Ives, Mr and Mrs R. J. Sutton, Mr E. Dennis, the Rev. Kennetn Schollar (St. Faith's), and Mr L. R. Hurrell (vestryman, St. Faith's). TRIBUTE FROM MAYOR OP NEW BRIGHTON .In a statement last evening, the Mayor of. New Brighton (Mr E. L, Smith) paid high tribute to the valuable service given to the community by Dr. W. E. Stevens. "Although Dr. Stevens did not actually sit on a local body in New Brighton, he was behind every progressive movement in the borough," said Mr Smith. "He was an honorary surgeon to most "organisations, and was very active in assisting the Ladies' Division of the St. John Ambulangce Brigade in New Brighton. His advice was invaluable in the various activities of the local and semi-local bodies. He was a man who knew the people and was endowed with the gift of being able to impart sympathy, not only in his profession, but privately as well. "Dr. Stevens had been asked to allow himself to be nominated for the positions of both Mayor and councillor, but had refused, on the grounds that he could do more to help New Brighton forward and also look after the people better, if he were free. Generous in his actions to others, duty came first.. Many a home will miss him. The people of New Brighton have lost a genuine friend."