OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 45, 17 November 1925, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR. HENRY COOK The death of Mr. Henry Cook which occurred at the residence of his adopted ..w H. Wallace, Kangi mai're,” ■Beauchamp Street, Karon °n Friday afternoon, saw the close of a life dsi'oted to public service. The deceased gentleman, who wa» in 81st vear, was bora on Kambton <2 Y fn 1844 resided in the Wellington district until the time of hisl death. H took up. farming pursuits, whichi he ca ried on at Makara for over 30 years. He retired about 28 years ago, and settled with his adopted son, Mr. W. H. Wallace, at Karori. The late Mr. Cook always took an active interest in . public affairs, and served at various times on the Harbour Board, Hospital Board, Makara and Hutt Countv Councils, and Karon. borouglt Council. He was an enthusiastic, bowler, and was one of the founders of the Karori Bowling Club. Of a kindly and genial nature, he was admired and esteemed by all who knew him. and his familiar figure will be missed at Karori. The late Mr. Cook was predeceased bv his wife several years ago. He had no family, but is survived by an adopted son and daughter. Mr. W. H. Wallace and Mrs.%L. A. Arcus. He had been ailing for about a year, and his end was not altogether unexpected. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at St. Mary’s Churchyard, Karori a large number of people attended to pav their last tribute of respect to one who was generally admired and respected. At the service on Sunday morning the vicar of St. Mary’s Church (Rev. G. T. Woodward) pad a high tribute to the late Mr. Cook. He said that a great churchman had passed from their midst—one who all through his long life had found his greatest joy in serving the Church he so dearly loved. As a boy, in the early days of Wellington, lie had been brought up at. old St. Paul’s, which at that time stood somewhere near the present House of Parliament. He was a chorister, and a scholar at the Church School for boys. Because of In’s early training he had been a strong advocate of religious instruction in schools, believing that a religious foundation was the highest gift a child could possess. He had lived most of his life in the parish of Karori and Makara, and was one of the pioneers of the Church. For many years he lived in Makara, and acted as lay reader in the old wooden church, which’ had since been rebuilt in concrete. In those earlv days, when the clergy were few, and the distances verv great, he held together the scattered congregation. and did what he could for its spiritual welfare. Some 30 years agp he settled in Karori, and had always taken an active part in the church life of the district. He held for some time the positon of churchwarden, and remained a member of the vestry until he reached his 80th birthday. “This parish will never be able to measure what he has done for it,” said the preacher. "He has enriched it by his good example, bv his generosity, and bv his affectionate nature. Not only has this parish lost a libera! supporter, but manv others will feel the loss of a friend who was always ready to help. He was particularly generous to missions, and never forgot the appeals from Melanesia and the Maoris in his own land. His was indeed an affectionate nature—a most lovable mall, and a man with a big heart.”