FINE SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 8

FINE SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

SIR GEORGE HARPER'S CAREER UNDIMINISHED INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS Sir George Harper, 0.8.E.. who is 93 years of age, is one of the bestknown and most highly-esteemed citizens of Christohurch. His undiminished interest in public affairs is remarkable, for though many younger men have retired from active work. Sir George continues to serve the community in many capacities. He is a member of the Cathedral Chapter, the Christchurch Domains Board, the Board of Governors of Christ's College, and the Board of Trustees of the McLean Institute. He is also joint patron of the Christchurch Metropolitan Relief Association, of which he was formerly chairman. The whole of Sir George Harper's life and his continued work in the public interest are a reminder of the ideals which inspired the founders of the Canterbury settlement. The fourth son of the Most Rev. H. J. C. Harper, Primate of New Zealand, and the first Bishop of Christchurch, he was born on April 24, 1843, at Stratfield Mortimer, Berks, England, of which parish his father was vicar from 1840 to 1856. Sir George Harpers birthplace is not far from Stratfield Saye the nation's gift te the Duke of Wellington after the victory of WaterHe received his early education at St Peter's College, Radley, Berks, and at' Eton. Although Bishop Harper arrived at Lyttelton on December 23, 1856, Sir George and his brother did not come out until 1858 He attended the upper department of Christ s College for several years, and in 1800 went to London and studied for the Bar at the Inner Temple. Important Legal Work In June, 1869, he was called to the Enelish Bar, and a year later, on his relurn to Christchurch, he was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New' Zealand. Between 1870 and .1880 lie was engaged in most of the principal cases in Christchurch, and in the Court of Appeal In the 'Bo's, he was a member of the Royal Commission, consisting of judges of the Supreme Court and certain members of the legal profession, set up in the revision of the Supreme Court Acts, and the framing of a new code of procedure. For many years he has been a member of the New Zealand Law Society and of the Canterbury District Law Society, of which he was president for two years. Sir George Harper has been a member of the governing body of Christ s College since 1900, and has been subwarden since 1920. (The Position of warden is always held by the Bishop of the diocese). Sir George is also a Fellow of the college. He joined the Christ's College Rifles Volunteer Comany in 1883 as captain, after having served for a brief period in the Reserve Corps formed at the time of the Russian scare. He remained in command of the corps until 1893 and resumed command in 1900, resigning m 1904. The Citizens' Defence Corps At the beginning of the Great War, he with several others, founded the Citizens' Defence Corps, of which he was president during the period of its existence. This organisation was instrumental in recruiting more than 5000 men for active service, and in establishing a club for the benefit of returned soldiers, wounded or otherwise The club was afterwards merged into the Returned Soldiers' Association as it now exists. For his services during the war period, he was awarded the 0.8. E. Since 1904 Sir George has found an outlet for his natural interest in the preservation of the beauty of Christchurch through his membership of the Domains Board. In 1920 he was elected chairman of the board, and he held that office until 1931, when he resigned, though he has continued to serve as a member of the board. During the whole of his period of association with the board he has been untiring in his work to preserve to the citizens of Christchurch the heritage which was set aside for them by the pioneers. Continued Public Service Other activities which have engaged and still engage the attention and activity of Sir George are his membership of the Cathedral Chapter and his duties as a trustee of. the McLean Institute. He retired from active legal work in association with the firm of Harper, Pascoe, Buchanan, and Upham in 1930. Many tributes have been paid to him as "the father of the legal profession" in Canterbury. In spite of his great age, Sir George's public services were undiminished during the depression. He was chairman of the Metropolitan Relief Association from its inception for a number of years, and is now one of its two patrons. He was also a member of the local committee of the Unemployment Board, which was disbanded last year. MR J. W. A. HEENAN Mr J. W. A. Heenan, C.8.E., was born, at Greymouth in 1888. He was educated at the Mount Cook School, Wellington; where he won the Queen's scholarship, at Wellington College, and at Victoria University College, where he took the degree of LL.B. He joined the Colonial Secretary's office in January, 1906, and transferred to the law drafting office in 1920. Mr Heenan is particularly well known in the sporting world. He is a life member of the Wellaagton centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, and has been a member of the council of the association, a member of the New Zealand Boxing Council, a member of the executive of the Wellington Rugby Union, and a member of the Olympic Council. He has also taken a keen interest in racing, and is a recognised authority on breeding. Some years ago he was a member of the Eastbourne Borough Council. MISS EILEEN DUGGAN Miss Eileen Duggan, 0.8. E., is well known for the verse she has published, and for her literary criticisms in New Zealand newspapers. She was born at Tuamarina, near Picton, and j educated there and at Victoria College. She obtained a Master of Arts degree with first-class honours m 1918, and served for one rear on the staff of the Dannevirke High School, and another as a lecturer in history at Victoria College. . Miss Duggan resides m Wellington. Her publications include: "Poems (1924) and "New Zealand Bird Songs. MR H. A. SOMMERVILLE Mr H. A. Sommerville, M.8.E.. has been secretary of the Auckland Hospital Board since 1918. He is a son of the Rev Robert Sommerville, who was clerk of the Auckland Presbytery for 40 years. He is a fellow of the New Zealand Accountants' and Auditors' Association and a fellow of the

New Zealand Society of Accountants. Mr Sommerville had a good business training before he joined the board as assistant-secretary in 1916. He served in the National Bank at Auckland and Christchurch for five years, and left the bank's service to become accountant and secretary of the Komata Reefs Goldmining Company. He was with the company for 16 years, until it ceased working in New Zealand. MR RICHARD BROWN \ _____ Mr Richard Brown. M.8.E., was in the service of the Wellington Hospital Board for more than 20 years. Rising from store clerk to accountant, he vras later appointed secretary, a position he held for seven or eieht years. He retired because of ill-health about four years ago. MR W. S. WHARTON Mr W. S. Wharton, M.B.E. has been associated with hospital and charitable aid work in Christchurch for 51 years. He came to New Zealand from London in 1884 and two years later joined the staff of the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board. He continued in the same service when the Charitable Aid Board amalgamated with the North Canterbury Hospital Board in 1910. He has been secretary to the Hospital Board since 1912. [The Australian New Year honours list appears on page 5.]