OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 16

OBITUARY

SIR GEORGE HARPER The death occurred last evening' of Sir George Harper, 0.8.8., one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Christchurch. He was knighted in + he New Year honours last month. Sir George Harper was the fourth, son of the Most Rev. H. J. G. Harper, Primate of New Zealand and. first Bishop of Christchurch. He. was born on April 24, 1843, at Stratfield, Mortimer, Berks, England, of which parish his father was vicar from 1840 till 1856. He received his early education at St. Peter’s College. Radley, Berks, and at Eton. Bishop Harper arrived at Lyttelton on December 23, 1856, but Sir George did not come out until 1858. He attended the upper department of Christ’s College for several years, and in 1866 went to London and studied for the Bar at the Inner Temple. Jn June, 1869, he was called to the English Bar, and a year later, on his return to Christchurch, was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court .of New Zealand. 'Between 1870 and 1880 he was engaged in most of the. principal cases in Christchurch and in the Court of Appeal in the ’eighties. He was a member of the Royal Commission consisting of judges of the Supreme Court and certain members of the legal fession set up to assist in the revision of the Supreme Court Acts and the framing of a new code of procedure. For man- fears he was a member of the New Zealand Law- Society and the Canterbury District Law- Society, of which he was.'president for two years. He had beema membem of the governing body of Christ’s College since 1900 and a sub-warden; since 1920. He was also a fellow of-the college.. He joined the Christ’s College Rifles Volunteer Company in 1883 as captain after serving for a short period m the reserve corps formed at the time of the Russian scare. At the beginning of the Great War, with several others, he founded the Citizens’ Defence Corps, of which he was president. This organisation was instrumental in recruiting more than 5,000 men for active service and establishing a club for returned soldiers. The club afterwards was merged into the Returned Soldiers’ Association. For services during the war period he was awarded the 0.8. E. Sir George retired from active legal work in the firm of Messrs Harper, Pascoe, Buchanan, and Upham in 1930. He was often called the. “ father of the legal profession ia Canterbury.” Up till quite recently Sir_ George maintained an active interest in public affairs, and at an age when many men would have sought retirement he- continued to serve the community in many,, capacities. He was a member of the Christchurch Domains_Board. the Board of Governors of Christ’s College, the Christchurch Cathedral Chapter, the Board of Trustees of the M'Lean Institute, and he served for some time-on unemployment relief organisations., MR JOHN MRONEY The death of 'Mr John Moroney, which occurred at-the residence of mi son at Milton on Tuesday night, severs another link with the commencement of Milton’s chief industry—the Bruce Woollen Mills—in 1896. Born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1859, Mr Moroney accompanied his parents when they emigrated to New Zealand about 1871, After leaving school he worked at the butchery trade in Dunedin and Mornington. . . Early in May, 1896. he joined a party of four practical woollen mill, employees —Messrs James Walker, Thomas Walker. James Dalzell, and James Bowden —who were desirous of starting a woollen mill. Milton was chosen for their activities, and a company was floated with a capital of £25,000. Each of the foregoing was appointed to the charge of a department after the mill commenced operations in 1897. Mr Moroney assisted in the building operations, and was afterwards in charge of the mill warehouse, which position he held until about 14 years ago, when he retired from the company’s service, and pad since lived in retirement. 1 In his younger days Mr Moroney took an active part in public affairs, and served two terms as a member-of the Milton Borough Council. In outdoor activities he was a keen angler and also a keen bowler. He had held the office ef president of the Milton Bowling Club, and was elected a life member in recognition of his services to the club. In 188s> he married Mrs Campbell (nee M'Cusker), bv whom he was predeceased in April, 1929. He leaves one son, Mr John Moroney, a resident of Milton. The funeral took place on Thursday at Fairfax Cemetery.