OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 20986, 28 December 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR w. MITCHELL

The death is announced of Mr William Mitchell, a Justice of the Peace, a retired grocer, and an old resident of North-east Valley, who was much respected as a true and good citizen. He passed away suddenly on Boxing Day, and was buried this morning at Anderson’s Bay. Mr Mitchell was born at North-east Valley in 1858, and educated at the Stone School in Union street. As a boy he was apprenticed to the grocery trade. At the age of nineteen he went to Port Chalmers, and was in partnership with his brother John, tbe_ business being under the name of Mitchell Brothers. About nine years later he returned to North-east Valley and went into business on his own account, and remained in it until six years ago, when he retired. As a youth ho was a keen marksman and volunteer. He took a keen interest in the progress of the district, being one of those instrumental in the formation of the Northeast Valley Bowling Club, and for a number of years a member and chairman of the local school committee. He was associated with the North-east Valley Presbyterian Church for fortyfive years, being an elder for a long time. In the earlier part of the church’s life he was a teacher in the Sabbath school, also assisting for a time in this respect at the Upper Junction. He was of a reserved nature, but cheery disposition, his great delight being to visit and bring cheer to the aged and infirmed. For forty years he was attached to the Loyal Valley Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F. His wife, who was the eldest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs William Scott, of Port Chalmers, died five years ago. Those of the family who are left are: Mrs Bunn, Feilding; Mrs Kirkham, Taihape; Misses Gertrude, Dorothy, and Ruth; Sir L. D. Mitchell, Milton; Mr W. S. Mitchell, Maori Hill; Mr M. Mitchell, Samoa; Dr D. M. Mitchell, London.

MR 0. D. FOX

[Special to the ‘ Star.’]

CHRISTCHURCH, December 28

Mr Charles Dillworth Fox, who died at his residence in Colombo street on Saturday, in his eightieth year, was born at Wellington, Somerset, in 1852. Ho came to New Zealand in 1870, and was for some years a cadet on a station in the Mackenzie Country, later taking up a place of his own near Temuka. In 1877 he came to North Canterbury, and took up Foxdown, which he owned until his death. Ho retired from sheep farming in 1910, and came to live in Christchurch. Mr Fox travelled on the Continent a good deal as a boy, with Ins father, as well as later on his trips away from the dominion. He was a keen Rugby footballer, and played for Somerset, and for the old Temuka team His hobby was photography. Freemasonry was a life interest with him from the time of his initiation in Winchester Lodjup in 1877. Ho was. a foundation member of Lodge St. Albans. No. 2,597, E.C., of which he was the twenty-first master. Ho had the distinction of having occupied the chair of different lodges and chapters twentyone times. In the higher degrees of Freemasonry bo held the highest attainable position by being a member of the Supremo Council of the thirty-third degree. He was a member of the Church of England, having been lay reader in Waikari and Scargill, and was for some years on the vestry of St. Luke’s. MR J. R. SMITH Mr James Richard Smith, a wellknown and highly respected pioneer of Central Otago, died early on Wednesday morning at his residence Eden Leith, Wedderburn. Born_ at Lauder, East Lothian, Scotland, in 1852, and educated at Dr Bell’s School, Fountain Hall, ho entered the service of the North British Railway Company at Wavorley station, Edinburgh, and later, deciding to try his fortune in the colonics, ho sailed from Greenock, arriving at Port Chalmers on July 16, 1874. Ho obtained employment at Port Chalmers, and later was employed by Mr Green, railway contractor, at Balclutha, where after a few months he obtained a position with the late Mr Packman, of Naseby. At Naseby, in conjunction with the late Mr John Weir, he took over the property and plant on lease for three years and a-half, ultimately buying Mr Packman out, and starting the well-known firm of Weir and Smith, livery stables keepers and contractors. In 1888 the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr Weir taking over the farm at Gimmerburn, Mr Smith the livery stables. During the time he was in Naseby he took an active interest in all things appertaining to the welfare of the borough amt the district, being a member of the Maniototo County Council for thirteen years (two terms of which he was chairman), and a councillor of the Naseby Borough, afterwards becoming mayor. He was a member of the Hospital Committee, and also of the Central Otago Hospital Board, and was one of the prime movers in bringing about the separate formation of the Maniototo Hospital Board and the Vincent Hospital Board* occupying the chairmanship of the former board for

four years. He was a member and three years chairman of the Athenaeum, and for many years chairman of the Naseby Domain Board. Mr Smith took a keen interest in racing, and was a member of the Maniototo Jockey Club, being treasurer from practically its inception, and afterwards president. He owned and raced horses in Otago and Canterbury, and amongst those which carried the rose and blue to success were B’lying Fish, Home Rule, The Last, Jack the Flat, Sebastipool, Lord Rule, Barbette, Pretty Face, Thistledown, and Kostroma. He was a _ founder member and later president _of the Maniototo A. and P. _ Association, being a very keen competitor, and on two or three occasions carrying off the special prize for the aggregate at the show. Mr Smith was esteemed to bo a noted judge of horses, and on more than one occasion acted for Oamaru, Taieri, Gore, Invercargill, and other A. and P. associations. He w r as the first secretary of the Maniototo Farmers’ Club, and was instrumental in the running of the ploughing matches at Naseby, Kyeburn, and Eweburn. As an Oddfellow he -was an active member of the Loyal Naseby Lodge, being a trustee for a considerable After leaving Naseby in 1909, he resided in Dunedin, making periodical visits to his place at Wedderburn, but about 1923 established permanent residence at Eden Leith. He is suvived by five sons and two daughters. MAURICE GREIFFENHAGEN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDO&, December 27. The death is announced of Maurice Greiffenhagen. [Mr Greiffenhagen was a noted British artist. Examples of his work adorn the walls of many galleries in Britain and elsewhere. Two of his paintings were purchased by the trustees of the Chantrey bequest. Many people in Dunedin will remember his historical panels exhibited at the big exhibition. His work has been made familiar throughout the Empire by his illustrations in many books and magazines. Mr Greiffenhagen was elected an A.R.A. in 1916 and an R.A. in 1922. He was sixty-nine years of age.]