OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1939, Page 11

OBITUARY

MR. CHARLES LEAPER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.]

NELSON, June 15,

The death has occurred of Mr. Charles Leaper, aged 81. Mr. Leaper took a prominent part in bowling and bandsmen's activities.

MR. ARTHUR ROSE

(Special to the "Evening Post.") LEVIN, June 15,

One of the few remaining pioneers of the Feilding district, Mr. Arthur Rose, died at Levin recently at the age' of 82.

The late Mr. Rose was born at Leeds, Yorkshire, and came with his parents to New Zealand, settling at Wanganui. For many years Mr. Rose worked as a painter and paperhanger, but in 1896 he took up 100 acres in the Pemberton Settlement. At the time Mr. Rose said that his sole possessions were, a horse and cart, a cow, and £5. As the years went on he enlarged his holding considerably. Ten years ago he retired to a small property in Levin. Of his family, five sons and three daughters are living. There are 40 grandchildren and 15 great-grand-children.

The funeral took place at Rangiwahia and was very largely attended. The father of Mr. Rose had the distinction of being a driver of a Royal tram in Queen Victoria's reign.

MRS. W.F. BODEN, M.B.E.

The death occurred at her home, Austin Street, yesterday of Mrs. W. F. Boden. M.8.E., one of New Zealand's best-known war workers, whose services are principally remembered for her successful establishment in Wellington of a returned soldiers' and sailors' hostel originally intended to care for men returning from the front.

When the need for such a hostel became apparent Mrs. Boden organised a committee of women, who were assisted by a number, of well-known men, . including Sir Joseph Ward, then Minister of Finance in the National Government, Sir Thomas (then the Hon. T. M.) Wilford, Mr. G. P. Levvey, Sir Michael (then Mr. M.) Myers, Mr. E. R. Sykes, M.P., and Mr./P. C. Watt. The hostel was opened in the old Langham Hotel building in 1916. Mrs. Boden was secretary, and she continued in that office for a number of years until ill health forced her retirement. During the. first. 12 years the hostel provided 121,705 beds and 367,031 paid meals to ex-soldiers, and 3194 beds and 14,478 free meals. . Wprk such as was entailed in the hostel was exacting and continuous, but Mrs. Boden not only looked after the business side, but also helped the men in many ways—fighting for their pensions, trying to find them employment, hospital treatment, medicine where necessary, and often clothing. Mrs. Boden was always very modest about her work, and insisted on giving much credit to others who helped. Mrs. Boden joined the War' Graves Committee set up under the Women's National Reserve to secure an area of ground at the Karori Cemetery for soldiers and was secretary for a number of years. She was also a foundation member of the Women's National Reserve, and during the -war trained 50 women for the Public .Service, all of whom were employed to release men for war service. She was a foundation member of the Residential Nursery for children, and a vice-president of the first town-planning association. Mrs. Boden did a good deal of journalistic work, and at one time was Parliamentary correspondent for several papers. After the war she was made a member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to ex-soldiers. Mrs. Boden was 74 years of age. She is survived by a daughter, Miss Anne Boden, and a son, Mr. Harry Boden, both of Wellington. A TRIBUTE. The following reference to the late | Mrs. Boden's work in connection with < the returned soldiers' and sailors' hostel at Wellington was made today | by Mrs. E. J. Moore, J.P., who for many years has been president of the hostel ' committee:—"To establish and maintain a ward for soldiers while the excitement of war is at its height and public sympathy is flowing freely is a comparatively easy task, but to continue that work long after the war years when public interest has practically died and there are people who hardly.remember what the war meant to those who went through it is a very different matter, and requires patience, forbearance, and perseverance such as is all too seldom found in frail human nature. That' is what Mrs. Boden did in this district with the hostel for returned soldiers and sailors which was established -through her energy and has been maintained by her perseverance ever since. It was only through ill health in 1936, after 22 years' unselfish service, that she retired.