OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 92, 13 January 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

Dlr. W. J. Penn, Taranaki The death of Mr. Walter James Penn, aged 77, formerly editor of the “Taranaki Herald," occurred ou Saturday, reports a Dress Association message from New Plymouth. During the 37 years he occupied the editorial chair. Mr. Penn did much for the district. He came to New Zealand iu 1881 and settled at Stratford, which was then in the bush. His practical knowledge of conditions in Taranaki and of the needs of the settlers made him an earnest and a skilful advocate of their cause, and much of the progress of the province and the port of New Plymouth was due to him. He retired from the editorship in 1932. (hi leaving school, Mr. Penn entered a Birmingham merchant’s office. He joined the “Herald” iu ISSS and became editor in 1595. He was twice president of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce but otherwise kept out of public lite. He was the author of “The History of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers.’’ Sister Mary Chanel Well known and loved among the poor, Sister Mary Chanel died at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay. on Saturday at the age of G 4 years. She was born at Charleston, on the West Coast of the South Island, hut came co Wellington with her parents when she was a small child. She had the distinction of being one of the first sisters to eider Hie Sisters of Compassion, and was received at St. Joseph’s Church iu .189'J. All her life was spent at the Home of Compassion and .at the Home for Incurables in Buckle Street. When the late Mother Mary Aubert paid a visit to Rome, Sister Chanel took her place, and site also tilled the positions of assistant to the superior-gene-ral. local superior at Buckle Street, and novice mistress at Island Bay. For some years she had been somewhat incapacitated through illness, and her death, although a great loss to the Home of Compassion, was not unexpected. Stic is survived bv two brothers, Mr. .1. Kelly and Mr. D. Kelly, both of Wellington, and four sisters, Mrs. Murphy, Pabautanui, Mrs. Wilson, Wellington, Mrs. Harrison, Christchurch, and another in Auckland. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at I he chapel at the Home of Compassion this morning, aud immediately afterward the funeral will leave for Karovi. Mrs. Mary J. Oakes Alter a short illness, a well-known resident of Wellington, Mrs. Mary J. Oakes, wife of Mr. Frank J. Oakes, of Oriental Terrace, died on Saturday last. -Mrs. Oakes (who was a daughter of the late Mr. ami Mrs. W. F. Ross, sen.), was born in Hokitika, and came Io Wellington with her parents in 1878. She was more particularly known to the public through her musical activities years ago, when she rendered valu able assistance on many occasions at concerts and musical performances of various kinds. >Sbe was a member of t he original Wellington Amateur Operatic Society, and made several appearances under the baton of that best of musicians, the late Mr. Tallis Trimnell, and even prior to his taking over the eonductorship of that society. Mrs. Oakes was the Plaintiff in one of the early performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's “Trial By Jury,” which was conducted by her husband, Mr. FrankOakes, She was also a member and soloist in the choir of St. Mary of the Angels’ Church from 1881 to 1904. Ou (he establishment of St. Gerard's Church by the late Archbishop Clune in 1908, Mrs. Oakes became a foundation member of the choir, and continued as an active member until a few weeks ago. She was also an active member of the Jubilee Choir organised by her husband on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the late Archbishop Redwood. Her services were always available at the call of charity, irrespective of creed or other consideration. She leaves no family. Her sisters are Mesdames D. D. Hyde, P. N. Denton, and the Misses Ross. Mrs. Amy Woodward. the well-known soprano, is a niece. The funeral will be private, Mrs. Greta Rawnsley The death occurred on Saturday after a brief illness, of Mrs. Greta 11. Rawnsley, wife of Mr. R. 11. Rawnsley, of Clutha Avenue. Khandallali, ami of the staff of the Vacuum OU Company, Wellington. Mrs. Rawnsley was a daughter of the late Mr. aud Mrs. Claude Revans, of Palmerston North, and, at one tune, of Wellington. She was a granddaughter of the late Dr. Revans, one of Wellington's pioneer doctors, and a grand niece of the late Mr. Samuel Bevans, who was instrumental in founding the first newspaper iu New Zealand at Petone, soon after the arrival of the first ships of the NevZealand Land Company, and after whorfi Revans Street, Wellington South, is named. The funeral is to leave Morris's mortuary chapel, Taranaki Street, at 2 p.m. to-day, for the Karori Cemetery. Mr. G. T. Woodroofe The death has occurred of one of Fox ton's best-known residents, Mr. George Thomas Woodroofe, aged 02 years, states a Special Service message. Mr. Woodroofe ■was born in Mastertou in 1873, but removed to Palmerston North with his father as a lad. He was one of the earliest pupils to attend the Terrace End School, and at the jubilee of that school two years ago was one of five of the first pupils to attend the ceremony. After leaving school he entered the cabinetmaking and upholstering trade with his father, and lived in Palmerston North until 1903, when he went to Foxton and engaged in farming pursuits in the Marotiri district. Subsequently he acquired Hie butchery business in Foxion from the Howan estate and gave that up after a number of years to take up auctioneering, in which occupation he was engaged up to the time of his death. He leaves a wife and daughter. Mrs. W. Edliu, of Foxton. There tire two grandchildren. Messrs. Samuel (Sydney). Robert (Matainata), William and Walter (Palmerston North) and Herbert Woodroofe (Ashhurst) are brothers. Sisters arc Mesdames E. Dagg (Morrinsville), F. Cushing ami W. Pickering (Palmerston Nuri h). Mr. F. R. Hogarth

The death occurred late on Saturday night of Mr. Francis Rae Hogarth, Ellice Street, Wellington. Born in Geelong, Victoria, he came to New Zealand with his parents when eight years of age and had resided in Wellington ever since.

For a number of years Mr. Hogarth was in the employ of the Wellington Harbour Board, and left his position (here Io elder business on his own account. At lhe time of his death he was chairman of directors of lhe Golden it,-iy Cement-. Company ami a director of. the New Zealand Guarantee

Corporation, the Grey Valley Collieries, the Westland Electric Power Board and the Banda Quarries. Mr. Hogarth was a prominent Freemason, being a past-master of the Waterloo Lodge. Ho was a bachelor, and leaves two sisters, Mrs. J. Amadio and Mrs, A. Thompson, both of Wellington.

Mr. William Henry Tong

■ The death has occurred at Feildiug i of Mr. William Henry Tong, a well . known resident, in his 9.lst year, stales i a "Dominion” Special Service message. Mr. Tong was born in the village of Flushing in the parish of Mylor, Cornwall, and, becoming apprenticed to a shipbuilder, made his first deep-sea voyage after serving his time, in the three-masted barque John Henry, bound for New York. In his capacity of ship's carpenter he made other voyages in the vessel, going to the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and to Cuba. Deciding on the homeward voyage to leave the sea, Mr. Tong joined his father, who was assistant-income tax and rate-collector in Mylor, but the call of the sea proved too strong and in 1874 he was engaged for three years in the romantic tea clipper ships on the England-Japan-China route. Ou the death of his father in IST? Mr. Tong succeeded him, assuming also the duties of agent in the parish for Lord Clinton’s estate, a position he held for 19 years. In that period two of his sons left, for New Zealand, and in 1896 the whole family joined them. Aft?’’ staying for a time with a brother-in-law, Mr. T. J. Smith, of Colyton, Mr. Tong was engaged in farming for ten years at Waiata. Later he became assistant clerk of the Pohangina Ciunty Council and then obtained the position of acting town clerk and treasurer of the Feildiug Borough Council. He retired from active work at the age of 70, and in 1920 went to the Waikato district with his wife and eldest daughter. On the death of the latter IS months later, Mr. and Mrs. Tong returned to Feildiug. In 1924. a period of 59 years of happily married life was brought to an end with the death of Mrs. Tong. Mr. Tong is survived by two sons Messrs. A. J. Tong (Waharoa, Waikato) and .1. R. Tong (Auckland), am! one daughter. Mrs. J. 11. Gray (Fcild ing), with whom he had been residing for some time past. One sou and five daughters predeceased him. There are 22 grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren.