OBITUARY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 2

OBITUARY

MR F. B. ROBILLIARD Mr Frederick Benest Robilliard, formerly a watchmaker and jeweller in Ashburton, and a prominent sportsman, died in Christchurch on Thursday. Mr Robilliard was born in 1873 in the Guernsey Islands, and went to Ashburton from Kaiapoi in 1899, where he was joined by his father in the business of Messrs Robilliard and Son, watchmakers and jewellers. He spent a period in Australia to gain further experience in his work. Mr Robilliard was a founder of the Ashburton County Rugby Sub-Union in 1904, and was president for more than 20 years. He was a member of the Canterbury Rugby team that played Queensland in 1896, and two years later represented Canterbury in seven games. For many years he was a Rugby referee, and was a president of Old Boys’ Football Club. One of his sons, Alan, was an All Black from 1924 to 1928. Athletic sports in Ashburton were all assisted by Mr Robilliard, and he was a prominent member of the Ashburton Trotting Club. He was timekeeper for the club since 1900, and a vice-president for 46 years. For about IMyears he was also a member of the Ashburton Country Racing Club’s committee. Mr Robilliard, from 1905 to 1913, was a member of the committee of the Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts, and was later a trustee. He was Master of the Thistle Masonic Lodge in Ashburton in 1907, and in 1940 was Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, He is survived by his four sons, Messrs Noel, Alan, Jack and Guy Robilliard, and one daughter, Mrs M. F. Smith.

MR EDWARD W. COOP A well-known farmer who had lived at Port Levy since 1932, Mr Edward Wright Coop died in a Christchurch hospital on Thursday. A son of William and Mary Coop, he was born at Little River in 1870. His parents had settled there about 1860. his father being a partner in the first sawmilling business in the district. Mr Edward Coop worked in this mill for some time. About 1899 Mr Coop settled at the “Hineroa” station, near Gisborne, where he cleared about 10,000 acres of bush in partnership with his brother, George. They continued sawmilling and farming there, and a few years later took up more land on the Mahia Peninsula. In 1910 Mr Coop settled at “Goathills,” near Kaikoura. About 1916 he exchanged this property for 600 acres at Russley, including the present golf links property. In 1918 he bought “Fearnlea,” a property at Port Levy. He bought the homestead there from Mr William Fleming and went to live there in 1932. Mr Copp married Bertha Ada Lough about 1904, and they had three sons. Mr Coop was a member of th? Mount Herbert County Council for many years, and was for a while chairman. He belonged to the Canterbury Club and the Midland Club. He is survived by two sons—Dr. I. E. Coop, of Lincoln., and Mr W. S. Coop, of Little River—and by three brothers, Messrs Frank Coop (Ataahua), George Coop (Gisborne), and William Coop (Tukituki), and a daughter, Mrs GalWey (Little River).