THE LATE MR. ANDREW LEES

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 2 September 1932, Page 9

THE LATE MR. ANDREW LEES

RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE. AN IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL. Few men in South Taranaki have given greater or more useful service to the public than the late Mr Andrew Lees, of Okaiawa, whose sudden death on Wednesday will be regretted by friends all over the province. His death will be a serious loss to the community life of Okaiajva, where he was a leader to the cause of education and of Rugby football. The dairying world and especially the Joll Company, has lost oii e of its leading and most useful rnen.

Leaving the South Island in 1899, Mr. Lees came to Taranaki and was associated with the late Mr. T. L. Joll until 1904 when he joined the Norinanby factory as manager, leaving there to become secretary of the Dairy Company formed to take over the interests of Mr. Joll after his death in Wellington. Mr Lees served that company right up to the time of his death. Education was a vital interest in Mr Lees’ life. For 13 years he was a member of the Taranaki Education Board, being chairman during the time Mr. S. G. Smith was a Cabinet Minister. Mr. Lees retired later in Mr. Smith’s favour. In another sphere of educational work Mr. Lees also gave markedly good service. He was twentyone years chairman of the Okaiawa school committee, retiring only a year or two since. V

Sport claimed a lot_of his time and attention and in the Okaiawa Football Club he took the keenest interest. He was president of that club for twenty-one years and had also served on the Rugby union and been chairman for several years of the South Taranaki Referees’ Association. Though not actively associated with cricket, he was one of the keenest enthusiasts. He rarely missed a match played oy the Okaiawa Club and was generally present at any representative match. Another sphere of public life in which Mr. Lees took a keen interest was the Winter Show. He was a director for several years till his death and gave valued service, especially to the dairy section. He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Miss Gladys Lees, and two step daughters, Mrs. T. I lines of New Plymouth and Mrs. O. Crawford of Okaiawa. Mrs. E. G. Betts, of Okaiawa, is a sister. The funeral took place at the Okaiawa cemetery to-day and was attended by relatives and friends from all parts of the. province. A large number of beautiful wreaths were sent including those from the various local institutions with which Mr Lees’ had been associated.

The cortege was one of the largest ever seen in Okaiawa, and it is estimated that over 1000 people attended, nearly all on foot. Two pipers, Messrs. Linn and Henson, Headed the procession and played a lament at they conclusion of the service, and a pathetic note was added by the wailing of Maori wah men from Okaiawa pa. The wreaths were' so numerous that a lorry was used to convey portion of them. In the procession were representatives of the Taranaki Education Beard, the Taranaki Rugby Union and many school committees, sports bodies and farming institutions. The Rev. iJohn Watson officiated at the service in the house and later at the graveside. The hearers were Messrs. A. G. Fraser (Okaiawa'), J. B. Murdoch (Hawecra), A. CL Johnstone (Auroa), W. A. Guy (Mata-pu), B. C. Bennett (Hawera) and S.. G. Smith (New Plymouth). Tb-iy represented the Joll Dairy Company and several public bodies on which Mr. Leas had given service.