OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 188, 7 May 1941, Page 9

OBITUARY

Mr. J. AV. Stables

The death occurred recently at his residence in Wellington of Mr. John William Stables, who for many years was in charge of the wholesale stationery department of the old-estab-lished Dunedin firm of Fcrgusson and .Mitchell, Ltd. Upon the liquidation ot that firm Mr. Stables made his home in Wellington, where in 1918 he joined the firm of Wiggins, Teape and Alexander Pirie, Ltd.

Mr. Stables was regarded as an expert in the paper industry. He was tlie third son of the late Mr. John Stables, one of Otago's early school teachers. He was born in Napier in 1868, and went to Dunedin with his parents in 1870, receiving his education in Waitaliuna, whore his father was stationed for some years. He took a keen interest in social and economic reform, and was one of the pioneers of tlie W.E.A. movement in Dunedin, holding tlie position of honorary treasurer for the first few years of its activities when Mr. 11. D. Bedford was leader. His home was a rendezvous for all sorts ami conditions ot persons seeking a solution of social problems. Those who attended tlie Wellington crematorium to pay their respects to his memory included the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, and other mourners of ail shades of religious and political convictions. His wife survives him and there are three surviving brothers and three sisters, Messrs. A. W. Stables (Dunedin), J. A. Stables (Christchurch), R. Stables (Auckland), Mrs. W. Stewart (Christchurch), Mrs. I. Liggins (Perth), and Miss Stables (Invercargill). Mr. J. E. Meadowcroft Mr. John Edward .Meadowcroft, Khaiidallah, and formerly of Upton Park, Chester, England, died recently at the age of 72 years. Till his arrival in New Zealand in 1921 Mr, Meadowcroft had been associated all bis working life with the Manchester Ship Canal. For, many years his father was manager of the company’s Bridgewater undertaking at Runcorn Docks. Mr. Meadowcroft had long service with the Yeomanry and served throughout the Great War with the Denbighshire Hussars. He is survived by his wife, a sou, and four married daughters, two of whom live in England. Mr. J. H. Laughton Mr. John H. Laughton died on Sum day in Blenheim, where he had been gince he went over to take part in the Easter bowling tournament there. Mr. Laughton, who was a member of th« Newtown club, and, in later years, the Seatoun club, came to New Zealand with his parents as a child 65 years ago, and remainded here the whole of bis life. On leaving the Mt. Cook School, in Taranaki Street, (since demolished), Mr. Laughton joined the staff of Lyon and Blair, afterward Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., an’d after that was associated with the staff of the Wellington Education Board till he resigned to succeed Mr. J. Grant as Grand Secretary for the North Island U.A.0.D., a position he retained up to the time of his death.

Before his bowling days Mr. Laughton was very active in other sport. At one time he was a keen yachtsman, being one of the crew of the old Ngaire. In Rugby he played for the Pirates club, and later became a strong adherent of the Melrose club, rising to be captain of the first fifteen when it won the club championship of ' Wellington in 1896. He also served on the Wellington and New Zealand Rugby Unions. For 30 years he had made a (practice of crossing to Blenheim at Easter. He is survived by his wife, a daughter (Mrs. Provost), and two sons (Messrs. Hnia and Norman Laughton). Mrs. I. E. Anderson The death occurred at the residence of her only daughter, Mrs. 11. E. Reynolds, 33 Thyra Street, Dannevirke, of Mrs. Isabella Ewart Anderson in her eighty-ninth year. Mrs.’ Anderson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, coming to New Zealand in 1884 in the sailing ship Opawa with her husband, the late Alexander Forsythe Anderson, for many years a journalist on the Loudon “Pall Mall Gazette.” Mrs. Anderson was a member of the Women’s National Reserve, Wellington Royal Choral Society, Sunday school teacher and deaconess of St. John’s Presbyterian Church, and secretary of the Y.W.C.A. In Masterton she was president of the Reform Political Party and during her time ■ in Dannevirke took aim-active part in Knox Women’s Guild, Mangatera Women’s Institute, Townswomen’s Guild and up to within a month of her death she was actively engaged knitting for Hie soldiers. It was only during the last few weeks of her life that ’Mrs. Anderson was confined to bed and she passed peacefully away in her sleep on Saturday morning. Mr. H. A. Shepherd The death occurred on Monday of Mr. Harry Arthur Shepherd, of 68 Moxham Avenue, Wellington. He was born in England and had been a resident of Wellington for some 30 yeais. lie was in business in the city for many years as a land and estate agent and was secretary and agent for the Hataitai Land Company, which cut up most of the land on the eastern side of Mount Victoria, extending down to Evans Bay. He was well known to bowlers. He was at one time secretary of tlie Hataitai Club and acted as selector for some years. He leaves a widow and two (laughters. Mrs. Bruce Stennctt and Mrs. Claude U. Moss.