DEATH OF MISS KATHERINE HOLMES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1925, Page 9

DEATH OF MISS KATHERINE HOLMES

Very widespread indeed will be the regret with which a large circle of people in the Dominion will hear of the death of Miss Katherine Mac Lean -Holmes, of Hawkestone street, Wellington. Miss Holmes was the daughter %t the late Hon. Mathew Hohries, formerly o ; f Dunedin and in later years of Wellington, and was for many years her father s companion. After his death she took up her/residence in her own house jxl Hawkestone street, which became a centre of art. and letters,- led by Miss Holmes, was herself an artist and gitic of outstanding ability. Miss Holmes s reading club, , which has numbered among its' members some of' the best intellects in the Dominion, has .been steadily' carried, on for at.. least thirty. years, and many have been led into appreciation: of Uteratui-e , which would .have .been- quite unknown and unher in*, suggestion and oversight It. has,Jbefen.said- of Miss Holmes that she wa« an'absolute authority on the great, authors Ruskm^and Dickens, though; her' . interest followed, the best of the v more .: modern wnters, with-equal capability. It would' be difficulty te do justice to the wonderful sympathy and kindness of heart: of Miss Holmes, her interest and tenderness being for all classes, while her charities were carried out on! the Scriptural plan- of ."not, letting the right-hand know what the left hand had done"— but they were continuous, thoughtful and well-planned, ' benefitting in all directions those who were. poor, sick, and suffering. . Here was a personality which instinctively cheered and- uplifted, and the loss to, friends, relatives, and many acquaintances who'appreciated hen is one which will;.be severely feltBut a beautiful example is always an inspiration to others,- and the life of :Kath-" erine Holmes ■vipll live in the memory of those who have been privileged to know her, even, in a. lesser degree, as a pattern of fineness, one which drew in-the lives of with whom she came in contact into culture, kindness, and high aspiration. Miss Holmes was the sister of Mr. James Holmes, of Portland crescent, Wellington, \and Mr., Stewart Holmes, of Bishopscourt, Dunedin; and of Lady Mac Lean and Mrs. White, both of Dunedin. Hep nieces ar e Mrs. Arthur Pearce, Mrs. W. E. Collins, and Mrs; T M. Wilford, of: Wellington, and Miss Mary Cobbe,. of Melbourne, who is in Wellington at present. ; Great sympathy' will be felt with all the. relatives and intimate friends of Miss Holmes,, the latter numbering people in-many other parts of the -world. ' -. :'