OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 252, 21 July 1936, Page 2

OBITUARY

Mr. Alfred E. Baxter

After a short illness, Mr. Alfred E. Baxter died yesterday morning at his home in Sumner, Christchurch. He was 58 years old. Mr. Baxter was one of the principals of Baxters Ltd., Christchurch, and was held in very high esteem in business and art circles. He was one of New. Zealand’s most distinguished water-colour artists. At least on two occasions he visited Great Britain and spent long periods paintlug ou the Continent. Works of his have been accepted by the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon. His leisure time was solely devoted to art, and he was a regular visitor to his favourite painting retreat, his weekend home not far from Kaikoura and in sight of the sea aud the rocky coastline which served so often as subjects for his brush.

Not long before his illness he spent several weeks motoring in the South Island on a sketching tour. He was an enthusiastic motorist over many years. Mr. Baxter leaves two brothers and a sister, the brothers being Mr. Walter Baxter, of Baxters Ltd., and Mr. J. Baxter, of Papanui. He is survived by his widow, twto daughters (Misses Joan and Betty Baxter) and one son, Master Tony Baxter. Mr. Henry William Smith The death of Mr. Henry William Smith, one of New Zealand’s early settlers, occurred at Wellington on Friday. Mr. Smith came to New Zealand with his parents from London in 1858, being one of the two youngest children on that voyage of the ship Zealandia. The parents had to carry their son over the Port Hills via the bridle track to the site of Christchurch, and in common with fellow pioneers the Smiths’ first home in New Zealand was a tent.

On leaving school, Mr. Smith served for several years in the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, then he joined the publishing staff of the “Lyttelton Times” aud the Christchurch “Star,” and later managed his brother’s catering business. Upon the death of his brother, Mr. Smith conducted the catering business for himself for some years. Hp was primarily the founder of the St. John Ambulance Association in New Zealand in Christchurch in September, 1884. A boy named Cooper fell off the rocks at Sumner and suffered facial injuries and received first aid from Mr. Smith. A meeting was held subsequently and the association was formed, the Rev. Thos. Flavell, of Merivale, being the first secretary. In the 'eighties and ’nineties Mr. Smith was a keen volunteer officer in the Linwood Rifles, and was a member of the Druids’ Lodge. For 22 years he served in the St. Luke’s (Anglican) Church Choir, Christchurch. Mr. Smith had resided in Wellington for many years before his death, and was a member of the Early Settlers and Historical Association. The surviving members of his family are the eldest son, Mr. F. H. C. Smith, Mrs. Frank McCormick, and Mrs. A. O. Thomson. The funeral was at Karori yesterday. Rev. C. F. Pierce Private advice was received in Wanganui on Sunday that the death had occurred at Cranbrook, Kent, of the Riev. Charles Frederick Pierce, M.A., who was headmaster of the Wanganui Collegiate School from 1921 to 1081, states a ‘‘Dominion” Special Service message. Mr. Pierce was bom at Bootle. Lancashire, in J 877, and was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he graduated master of arts. He was an assistant master at Cranbrook School from 1006 to 1908 and master at Giggleswiek School and Haileybury College and headmaster of the Cranbrook School from 1915 to 1921. In the latter year he came to New Zealand to take over the headmastership of the Wanganui Collegiate School, a position which he occupied until 1931, when he resigned and returned to England. His post wag taken over by Mr. J. Allen, who resigned last December. Mr. William Fisher

The death occurred on Saturday afternoon of Air. William Fisher, who was mayor of Carterton for the last 13 years, states a Press Association message. Air. Fisher, who was 87 years of age, was also chairman of the Wairarapa Hospital Board, aud last month was elected for a further term. He attended meetings at Wellington and Hastings a- fortnight ago, at which he caught a cold, which turned to bronchitis, and affected the heart. Deceased was very closely associated with the dairy industry in the Wairarapa for many years and was chairman of the Taratahi Dairy Company. Mr. Robert Patton Mr. Robert Patton, a former civil servant, who had live(l in Wellington for over 50 years, died last week. He was the fourth son of the late Mr. John Patton, who was headmaster of a school at Castlemaine, County Kerry, Ireland, and was a grandson of the late Dr. O’Sullivan, a direct descendant of the O’Sullivan-Bare, of the castle, Castle Town, Barehaven, Ireland. Air. Patton is survived by a widow, one daughter and one son. Mr. W. B. Messenger The death occurred at Inglewood yesterday of Mr. Walter B. Alessenger, aged 67, third son of the late Colonel Alessenger, of Maori War fame,, after whom Mount Messenger is named. Deceased was secretary of the Matakawa, Tariki, Tarata, and Kaimata dairy factories, and was an able accountant. He leaves a widow and family. Mr. A. H. Messenger, Government Publicity Officer at Wellington, is a brother.