OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 12

OBITUARY

MRS FRANCES PLEVER The death of Mrs Frances Plever,which occurred at Milton yesterday, removed the oldest inhabitant of the district, and one of the oldest in New; Zealand. Mrs Plever was in her 103rd year, and on March 10, 1932, when she reached the ago of 100 years, she received congratulatory telegrams _ front the Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe), the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes), Mr P. M'Skimraing, M.P., and several others. She was also the recipient of many personal congratulations. Until recently Mrs Plever had resided with one of her sons, but was lately admitted to the Milton Hospital. Although official records have been mislaid with the passage of time, it is stated authoritatively that she was born at Gorshaw (Poland) on March 10, 1832, her maiden name being Frances Coskoviski. ; When about twenty-seven years of age she married Mr August Plever. in her native country, and about ten years later they emigrated to New Zealand, accompanied by their young family. They arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Palmerston, in 1872. Mrs Plever’s husband was a railway platelayer in his native country, but after arrival in the dominion he engaged in general labouring occupations. They took up their resident® at Waihola, and afterwards removed to Glenledi. From the latter place Mr and Mrs Plever went to live at Milton, where Mrs Plever had since resided for over half a century. Her husband predeceased her about thirteen years ago, and she is survived by a family of four sons and one daughter. , . Possessed of all her faculties and even able to walk without the aid of a stick after attaining her hundredth birthday, Mrs Plever thoroughly enjoyed the festivities arranged in her honour, and sang two vocal solos in her nativo tongue. Though resident only thirtysix miles from Dunedin, it is surprising to record, in these days of modern fast transport, that' Mrs Plever had only once travelled by, train to the city in the whole course of the sixty-two year* since her arrival, and her only other trip by train was the three-mile journey between Milton and Milburn. Her trips by motor car around the Tokomairiro district were also very limited in number.

MRS JOHH G. BEGG Intimation of the sudden death in London of Mrs John C. Begg, of Fifield street, Roslyn, has caused sincere regret among a large circle of friends m Otago. Mrs Begg was a daughter .of Mr James Garden, of Clinton, an early settler in the Otago goldfields and in Clutha County, .and was born in Clinton in 1876. ‘ After being married ini 1905 she and her husband resided at Wyndham station, a. pastoral estate on the borders of Southland, held at that time and now’ by Mr Begg. Not long after the outbreak of the. war,Mr Begg having been accepted, for military service, the family came to reside in Roslyn, and established _ a home there. Mrs Begg was much interested in the work of the Y.W.C.A., of which organisation she was vicepresident for some time, and she represented Dunedin at a recent conference in London. She was a delegate also to the last annual meeting m England of tho Victoria League. The civic circle of the Otago Women’s Club was inaugurated on her initiative, and the gardening circle of the club also claimed her attention. Other activities included a warm interest in the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. Mrs Begg left the dominion in March last on a visit to England, and at the time of her death was staying with her daughter, Miss Jean Begg, in London, and they were shortly to have returned together to New Zealand. She is survived by her husband, whose name' is well known in Dunedin in connection with various local organisations, _ and particularly for his research in astronomy; and by three sons, two of whom are students at the Otago University, and the youngest a pupil of John M'Glasban College, as well as by her daughter, MR J. S. KILGDUR [Pee United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 8. The death is announced of Mr John Scott Kilgour, aged 62. of the Carlton Bowling Club, winner of the singles championship of the first dominion tourney in 1914-. MR FREDERICK W. COURT [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 7. The veteran Auckland business man, Mr Frederick W. Court, died at Onebunga, aged ninety-four. He was the founder of two of tlie city’s largest drapery businesses, John Court Ltd., and George Court and Sons Ltd. Born in Worcestershire, he and his brother* set up a drapery business in .Birmingham, but owing to ill-health, ho left for New Zealand in 1886. Despite the depression, he opened two shops, but five years later was obliged to retire, transferring the businesses to. his brothers John and George, respectively. In bis long retirement he recovered his health by an open air life and tending hi* large garden, and bo eventually survived both his brothers*