OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 113, 6 February 1941, Page 9

OBITUARY

Mr. S. J. Reid

The death occurred last night in a private hospital in Wellington, after a serious operation, of Mr. S. J. Reid, one of the best known and most popular horse trainers in New Zealand. He was 52 years of age. .Mr. Rei'd served his apprenticeship as a jockey with Mr. J. J. Gravestock, Carterton, who trained horses owned by Mr. C. F. Vallante. Among his notable successes as a jockey was the first Wellington Cup on Ropa, owned by the late Mr. D. Ross, and trained by the late Mr. W. Davis. He also won the Thompson Handicap on Lagoda, and the New Zealand Derby on Elevation. Success followed Mr. Reid when he gave up riding to set up as a trainer. Early in his career he prepared horses fo r Mr. B. Joll, and later for the late Mr. V. Riddiford. During this period his horses won most of the principal races in New Zealand. Among them were Historic, Quiescent, and Grand Knight. It was Mr. Reid who persuaded Mr. E. C. Harnett to purchase Beaulivre, who won several races for Mr. Reid’s stable before going to Australia, where Beaulivre subsequently won a fortune in stakes. At the time of his 'death Mr. Reid was private trainer for Mr. F. Ormond, Hastings. Mr. Reid leaves a wife, three sons and one daughter, the eldest son being Mr. P. Reid, the Hawke’s Bay Rugby representative. The funeral will take place in Hastings tomorrow. Mr. B. A. Svensen The death has occurred of Mr. Bert Adolph Svensen, a well-known resident of Wairoa, at the age of 66, says a “Dominion” Special Service meshage. Mr. Svensen, who was born in Norsewood, spent most of his life in Wanganui, but for the past two years he had been living in Wairoa with his brother, Mr. J. E. Svensen, of the Clyde Hotel. He was a returned soldier and went overseas with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, seeing service in France. Mr. Svensen was a keen sportsman. He was unmarried. Mrs. Harriet Humphrey A pioneer settler of Feilding and believed to be the oldest woman in the district, Mrs. Harriet Humphrey, who was in her ninety-fourth year, died at her residence on Sunday, after a brief illness, says a “Dominion” Special Service message. She had lived in Feilding since the settlement was born in 1874, suffered the trials of the vigorous pioneering days, reared a large family, and lived on to reap the reward of rest and comfort in the evening of her long life. Passing her ninetieth birthday, Mrs. Humphrey found that the years had not deprived her of any of her faculties. Born in London, Mrs. Humphrey came to New Zealand in 1874 with her husband, Mr. John Humphrey, who predeceased her many years ago, and they joined the band of pioneers who were to create the settlement of Feilding out of the bush. Her story of those days has been recounted many times, and she was one who had extreme pleasure in participating in the jubilee celebrations of the -borough and last year in the centennial celebrations. Mother of eleven children, Mrs. Humphrey is survived by one daughter and four sons, Mrs G. Terry (Feilding), Messrs. E. G. Humphrey (Te Awamutu), J. Humphrey (Palmerston North), A. R. Humphrey (Maklno), and W. 11. Humphrey (Stanway). There are 23 grandchildren, 100 greatgrandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.