OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 99, 21 January 1936, Page 11

OBITUARY

Mr. Edward Charles Prendeville

Mr. Edward Charles Prendeville, a member of the staff of the Justice Department, Wellington, died at the Home of Compassion yesterday morning, at the age of 48 years. Born at Makura, Mr. Prendeville was educated at St. Patrick's College, and after leaving college entered the Justice Department as a clerk. In 1912 he obtained a position with the Australian 5 Bank of Commerce, and was stationed at Sydney, Dubbo and Brisbane.

On the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, he returned to New Zealand and joined up with the Wellington Mounted Rilles, proceeding to the war with the Eighth Reinforcement, with the rank of sergeant. In France, he transferred to the artillery, serving with the Gth Howitzer Battery until the end of the war.

s lie was very popular with the mem- ■ bers of the New Zealand Expeditionary ■ Force at the front. In his youth he had I studied law, and he was in great de- ■ maud in France as counsel for soldiers i up for court-martial. So effective was : his defence that he became known as the "Soldiers’ Friend.” On his return ‘ to New Zealand he’joined the staff of the Public Trust, aud later was transferred back to the Justice Department. Mr. Prendeville, in his youth, was a prominent Rugby footballer, being a member of the Poneke club in Wellington and the Glebe club in Sydney, for both of which he played for the first fifteen. He also played for the Victoria University College first fifteen for some seasons, and later represented Wairarapa at Rugby. His health failed about three months ago, and two months later he entered the Home of Compassion. He leaves a widow and five children, the eldest being 12 years of age. He was a brother of Mr. J. Prendeville, of the Crown Law Oilice, who is chairman of the Wol- . lington Rugby Union, and is now on his way back from London, where he represented New Zealand at the Imperial Rugby conference last month. Other brothers arc Mr. J. H. Prendeville, manager of the New Zealand Fisheries, Chatham Islands, and Mr. N. IV. Prendeville, farmer, 'of Makara. Mrs. H. Bates, of Levin, is a sister. The funeral will take place to-mor-row. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica, Hill Street, and the cortege will leave the church for Karori Cemetery at 9.20 a.m. Mr. James John Clark Dunedin has lost one of its most respected citizens in the person of Mr. James John Clark, who died yesterday morning after a long illness, says a Dunedin Special Service message. The youngest son- of the Rev. James Clark, who was a well-known minister of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Clark was born at Riverton and when he was a few months old his parents removed to Palmerston, where he remained for 25 years. In 1895 Mr. Clark came to Dunedin and resided in the city until the time of his death. For a number of years he engaged in commercial pursuits, after which he devoted a great deal of time to civic affairs. He first became a member of the City Council in 1909. He was re-elected in 1911 and again in 1913. In-1915 he was elected Mayor of the city after a triangular contest. At the conclusion of his two years’ term of office, in response to a widely expressed desire, he offered himself for re-election. He was opposed by Mr. Isaac Green, but was returned by 8571 votes to 6179, and was the first person in Dunedin to hold the office of Mayor for four consecutive years. Immediately after the completion of his term as Mayor, Mr. Clark was elected a member of the City Council again, and after being out of the council from 1920 to 1923, was again a member until 1933. In addition to bis work on the council, Mr. Clark served on many other public bodies, among which may be mentioned the Dunedin Drainage Board, the Hospital end Charitable Aid Board, the Technical School Board of Governors and the Ocean Beach Domain Board, He was a member qf the patriotic association since its inception and was its president while he held the office of Mayor, and subsequently Its vice-president until his death. He was chairman of the Soldiers’ and Dependants’ Welfare Committee, which administers the funds belonging to the patriotic association. His services in these capacities were recognised in the bestowal on him first of the distinction of 0.8. E., and later of that of C.B.E. He was also a member of the National War ■ Funds Council. Mr. Clark was well known as a strong supporter of all athletic pastimes, but his particular interest, although he was physically unable to take part in the game, was confined, to cricket. His services to cricket generally were recognised by his appointment for a number of years as president of the Otago Cricket Association, and at one stage as president of the New Zealand Cricket Council. Mr. Clark was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being one of tlie founders of Lodge Haeremai, as well as belonging to Lodge Maori. He occupied several important offices in the New Zealand Grand Lodge, including that of Grand Master, which he held in 1929. In 1918, during the term of his second mayoralty. Mr. Clark was married to Miss Joy Mowat, by whom hi . is survived. Miss Mary Jennings The death has occurred at Nelson, at tlie age of 95, of Miss Mary Jennings, a well-known and highly-respec-ted resident connected with the earliest days of Nelson. Miss Jennings, says a Press Association message, was born in England and came out to New Zealand with her parents, William and Elizabeth Jennings, at the age of 18 months in the ship Mary Ann, landing at Nelson in 1842. She taught a little school in a room in her house in Cambria Street, where she lived for many years. Miss Jennings is survived by t Mrs. Emma Hunter, a sister, of Nel- i son, and Mr.. F. Jennings, of Welling- * ton. 1