DEATH OF MR HARRY CAPLEN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 March 1935, Page 4

DEATH OF MR HARRY CAPLEN

WELL-KNOWN HAWERA RESIDENT OVER 3Q YEARS A SOLICITOR The death occurred yesterday at the age of 84 years, of Mr Harry Caplen, one of the oldest £*nd most respected citizens of Hawera. Mr Caplen was a barrister and solicitor, and had a close association with the early days of Hawera and the South Taranaki district. Mr Caplen was born at Midhurst, Sussex, in 1850, and after leaving school entered the office of an underwriter at Lloyds. He came to New Zealand by the ship “Blue Jacket,” landing in Lyttelton in 1867. He first tried farming in Motueka, Nelson, and later went to Wangapeka during the gold rush in 1869. Later he went to Reefton, where he remained for eight years, during which time he pegged out the “Hopeful,” “Welcome,” “Alexandra” and other claims. He then turned his energies in the direction of law, and after signing articles with a Greymouth solicitor, he passed his examination and was admitted to the bar at Wellington by the Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast in the year 1882. He then came to Hawera to practise his profession until illhealth compelled his retirement just before the war. .

During his life in Hawera he was a member of the borough council for about seven years. As a Freemason, he was a Past Master, and was for four years secretary to the Lodge Hawera, and was also Past Assistant Grand Registrar. His other lodge activities included honorary membership cf The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows. He was a former member of the Hawera cricket, tennis and bowling clubs, being president at one time of the latter organisation. It is interesting to recall that in conjunction with Mr W. H. Hutson he gave the land for the green. He was one of the founders of the Hawera Gas Co., and acted as its solicitor, a position which compelled him to refuse a directorship. He was also solicitor for a group which endeavoured to erect woollen mills at Hawera. The movement, however, was abortive. • He was also a well known member of the Caledonian Society. He was for years a well-known helper in the affairs of the Anglican Church, where he was a lay reader for some time.

He married in 1879 the daughter ot the late Mr John Dew, of GreymouthHe remarried after the war and lived for a while at Auckland, finally returning to Hawera a few years ago. Mr Caplen leaves two sons, Messrs H. D., Hawera, and N. Caplen, Auckland, three daughters, Miss Caplen and Mrs W. D. Hamilton, Hawera, and Mrs G. Hall, Stratford, and three grand-children. At St. Mary’s Church morning service yesterday the Rev. Canon Malcolm eulogised the good work done in the early days by the late Mr Caplen for the church, and expressed .the deep S3 r mpathy of the parishioners with his relatives in their sorrow.