OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 19017, 12 August 1925, Page 8

OBITUARY

MU SPENCER BRENT. Mr Spencer Brent, who died on Monday at his residence in Uoslyn, was the oldest of Dunedin's lawyers. Ho entered Hie service of Haggitt Bros, in 1871, and after completing his articles was admitted as a partner. After Mr B. C. Haggitt died and Mr D’Arcy Haggitt moved to Christchurch, Milken t and Mr L. E. ’Williams carried on the firm for a rear. Then Mr Williams died, and Jfr Brent was profes? sionally alone until _1912, when ho took his son, Mr E. S. Brent, into a partnership which lasted till 1920, when Mr Spencer Brent retired, living at Waihoi a tor a while, then settling at Uoslyn. The deceased gentleman was known near and far as one of our very sound and sure legal practitioners, and of a most amiable disposition. What everybody may not know is that in his boyhood ho "had experience at sea. This leaked out at the Supremo Court in .Dunedin one day in a trial before Mr Justice Williams. Some reference was made to “ a swifter.” “ What is a swifter?” the court asked, and for a moment or two nobody seemed to have the answer, till Mr Brent arose in his quiet way, and explained the nature and uso of that portion of a ship's gear. Mr Brent took a keen interest in church matters, and was a member of tho Standing Committee of St. Paul’s Cathedra! for some years. On taking up his residence in Iloslyu Mr Brent took an active part in the management of affairs at St. John’s Uoslyn. Mr Brent is survived by his wife and four sons—Messrs E, S. and Tv. S. Brent (Dunedin) and V. S. and P. S. Brent (Alexandra)—and one daughter, Miss B. M. Brent (Dunedin).