OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 81, 30 December 1944, Page 8

OBITUARY

Hon. J. G. Cobbe The death occurred yesterday, in a private hospital iu Palmerston North, of the Hon. John George Cobbe, M.P. for Orona for 15 years till he retired from political life in 1943, and a leading citizen of Feildiijg for many years As a Minister, he held the portfolios ot\Marine, Industries and Commerce, Immigration, Justice and Defence. Born in King’s County, Ireland, where his family had been engaged in extensive farming operations for n long period, he was educated in Tullamore and Dublin. After coming to New Zealand he settled in Feilding, and was managing-director of John Cobbe, Ltd., till his retirement, in 1919. He then devoted greater attention to his considerable sheep farming interests in the Wanganui River district. He was the first president of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce, an office he filled on several subsequent occasions, and was also the inaugural president of the Feilding A. and P. Association, again acting in that capacity in 1923 and 1J24. For some vears, he was chairman of directors of‘the Feilding Farmers’ Freezing Coy., Ltd., and from 1911 to 1929 Manawatu representative on. the Wellington Harbour Board, of which he was chairman for two years. Mr. Cobbe was also chairman of the Harbour Boards Association, of New Zealand.

In 1925, in his first essay for political honours, Mr. Cobbe won the Oroua seat as a United. Party candidate, though Oroua had been a Reform seat for many years. His party won the election. Sir Joseph Ward became Prime Minister, and Mr. Cobbe was a member of Cabinet before he actually took his seat in the House. Later, on the amalgamation of parties and formation of the National Government, he retained his Ministerial offices, and at the following general election in 1931 he was re-elected unopposed for Oroua. In 1935 he had extraordinary success at thei polls. He faced two opponents—Labour and Democrat —and he defeated the two put together and had 500 votes to spare. He was re-elected at the 193 S election, but retired just before the election in 1943. . Mr. Henry Holland, C.B.E. The death is reported, in a Press Association message from Christchurch, of Mr. Henry Holland, C.8.E., J. 8., aged 85, father of Mr. S. G. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Opposition. Born iu Yorkshire. England. Mr. Holland was educated at a private school, and arrived in New Zealand in 1803. He established himself in business as an engineer and importer of machinery. Chairman of the Canterbury Patriotic Society for over 23 years, he had held similar positions with. Sir Arthur Pearson’s Fund for the Blind, and the Disabled Soldiers’ Re-establishment League. He was a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board for 18 years, having been chairman also of that body. He was a member of the War Funds Council and nn honorary life member of the Returned Services Association. Elected a member of the Christchurch City Council in 1911. he was mayor from 1912 to 1919, a member of the Christchurch Drainage Board for 15 years, and of the Eire. Board for a similar period, being chairman of that body for two years. Returned as M.P. for Christchurch ISorth in 1925, he retired in 1935. He was chairman of the McLean Institute from 1912 to 1918, president of the Overseas Club and a life member of the Victoria League. Mr. Robert -Scott

The death has occurred of Mr. Robert Scott, of Kyeburn. Central Otago, a former member of tlfe House of Representstives and of the Legislative Council. Ide was in his ninetieth year. Mr. Scott was M.P. for Tuapeka from 1908 to 1911 and for Otago Central from 1911 to 1919. and was a member of the Legislative Council from 1920 to 190-l. In addition to his Parliamentary duties, he was activel” associated with local body work fo- many years, and was prominent in farmers’ union activities. He was a sheep-farmer. Born in Forfarshire. Scotlaiid. Mr. Scott arrived in New Zealand with his parents in ISG2. In his early years he was' a boundary-keeper, shepherd anu drover, and later was appointed manager of The River Station, near Waikouaiti, for the late Mr. Henry Orbell. remaining there for nine years. In 1891 lie moved to Hurimara, Kyeburn, and in partnership with his son ran a farming property under the firm name of R. anil J. IV. Olcott. He was a member of the Southern Pastoral Lands Royal Commission in 1920. His local hotly interests included membership of the Maniototo County Council and Maniototo Hospital Board. He was chairman of the Taieri Lake Domain Board and the Swinburn Cemetery Trustees, each for over 30 years, and was an ex-president to the Maniototo Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He took an active part in the formation of the Farmers’ Union in Otago, and was provincial president in 1900. I< rom 18 <3 to 1880 be was a member of the IV aikouniti Volunteers. c , Air. Scott was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of Mr. Joseph M ley. of Staffordshire. England, and there was one son. Air. James AA r . Scott, and one daughter. Airs. A. AV. Pearson. Kyeburn. His second wife was Aliss Alauiie G. Hayward, daughter of the late -Mr. George Hnvward. of Templeton. Canterbury. and who at one time was matron of the AVestport Hospital and later was matron at Masterton and_ lady superintendent of Wairarapa hospitals. She also established a private hospital in Dunediu. Miss A. L. Grant

Through the death of Miss Agnes Lilian Grant at Napier on Christmas Day the community has lost a citizen who has devoted a lifetime to service for others. Aliss Grant took her bachelor oi arts degree at Canterbury College, and as a young woman felt the call to do what she could for the Maori people. In prepartion for this work in 1898 she spent six months teaching at Hukarere .Maori Girls College. It was here, under the tutelage of Aliss Maria Williams, one of the founders of the college, that Miss Grant learnt to sneak the Maori language. Miss Grant t>'"U took up ail appointment at the newly-opened native school at Karioi. in the King Country, where for six years she devoted herself to helping her' Alaori friends. A period was then spent iu England, where she studied theology and teaching at; Cambridge University and in London to fit herself better for her work. At the request of Bishop Williams she returned to New Zealand to take up missionary work' at Rotorua. Miss Grant, while at Rotorua, worked with the Rev. Al. A. Bennett, who later became the first Alaori bishop. A period followed in which Aliss Grant gave of her time and ability in the specialized training of Sunday school teachers.lll this work she was a pioneer in the AVellnigton and AVaiapu dioceses. In 1921 she .tinned her mother and listers, who went to live at Napier. Aliss Grant again became associated with teaching at Hukarere College. and she was also on the teaching staff of the Hastings High School. Latterly. as her health failed, she did private coaching. . Aliss Grant was a staunch member of St. Andrew's Anglican Church. Port; Ahuriri. where for 12 years she taught the buys’ Bible class.

Mr. A. E. Harraway The death occurred on 'Thursday of Mr Albert Ernest Harraway, a well-known lawn tennis player, cricketer and bowler, says a Press .Association telegram from Dunedin. In 1895 be won the Otago doubles championship at lawu tenuis.

In addition to being a prominent player, he was also interested in the administration of the game, and for some years was president of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association. He was well known throughout New Zealand as an authority on the rules of lawn tennis, anil .was .asked by the New Zealand Association to umpire Hie Davis .Cup contest between Australasia and the United States in Christchurch. In business life he was a sharebroker and accountant. Mr. Thomas Pryde A Press Association telegram records the death in Christchurch ou.Thursday of Mr. Thomas Pryde, who was for 32 years s"'cref ary of the Southland Hospital Board. He was aged 74. He had gone to Christchurch for a holiday and took ill there. Air. Pryde was appointed secretary of the Southland Hospital Board in 1908 and retired at the end of 1939. He was a member of the board for three years after his retirement and a member of Ihe Invercargill City Council from 1911 lo 1914. He was a member of the manngemenl committee of the Southland bowling centre for 27 years. In 1927 be was Dominion president of tiie Associated Churches of Christ. Mr. John Highsted Air. John Higlisted. caretaker of the Addington trotting track since 1928. died suddenly on Thursday at the age of 07 years, says a Press Association telegram from Christchurch. In remaking Hie Addington track lie produced tiie. fastest track iu the Southern Hemisphere anti the only one on which better titan a mile in two .minutes has. been made. Lawu Derby (1.59 2-5), Gold Bar and Haughty (1.59 3-5) made records on this course.