OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 10

OBITUARY

President Of Metropolitan Trotting Club

MR. J. H. WILLIAMS

The death occurred yesterday morning of Mr. J. H. Williams, president, of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and till recently president of the New Zealand Trotting Association, says a Press Association message from Christchurch. He. was a highly inspected administrator of the sport and had played a big part m making trotting as popular as it is today. Mr Williams, who was educated at Christ’s College, was a member of the legal firm of Meares, Williams and Holmes. On leaving school he took a prominent part in cricket in Canterbury and was secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association at tlie time of the visit of Lord Hawke's team more than 40 years ago. He represented Wellington on the New Zealand Cricket Council. He was also a prominent tennis player. Mr. Williams was elected vice-president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club in 1915, and held that position till 1921, when, on the death of the president, the Hon. C. Lonisson, he was elected president, which position he occupied till his death. In 1916 Mr. Williams was elected a member of the Trotting Association and had been a member ever since. On the retirement of Mr. P. Selig in 1925 Mr. Williams was elected president, and he held Hie position till his retirement a few months ago. He was a member of Jhe Racing Commission set up by the Government in 1920 to consider the redistribution of permits. Mr. Williams was one of the most popular figures in trotting, and he enjoyed the whole-hearted confidence of the men engaged in every department of the sport. Mr. J. S. Rutter The death occurred at his residence, North Terrace, Kelburn, Wellington, recently of Mr. J. S. Rutter, aged 76. Mr. Rutter arrived in New Zealand in 1877 in the. ship Hurunui and settled with his parents in Wellington, where he resided till his death. He joined the Government Printing Office at an early age and was associated with the department till he retired in 1925. In his youth he was a keen volunteer, having been at Parihaka and afterward serving as a member of the D Battery for many years. He was for 25 years superintendent of St. Anne’s Sunday School, Northland, and up to the time of his death acted as a trustee. He was a keen bowler and a member of the Newtown club for a number of years. Latterly lie belonged to the Thorndou club. For some years he was honorary secretary to the Public Service tournament. He was a member of the Southern Cross Lodge. Mr. Rutter leaves a widow and a daughter, Mrs. F. 11. Smith, Paekakariki.