QUEENSTOWN’S LOSS

Lake County Mail, Issue 10, 30 July 1947, Page 1

QUEENSTOWN’S LOSS

Death of Mr John Fraser Queenstown has lost one of its most highly respected residents, in Mr John Fraser, whose death, at the age of 86 years, i occurred after a short illness. Born in Scotland, Mr Fraser arrived in Queenstown at the age of seven. He was apprenticed to the printing trade with the Lake Wakatip Mail in the seventies. The Mail then had its establishment in Church street, Queenstown. Later when this office was gutted by fire in 1879, he was a member of the staff that went to Arrowtown when publication was made through the old Observers Office, until the time that the present Mail Office was built. Subsequently Mr Fraser worked as a compositor on the staff of the Otago Daily Times at Dunedin. Relinquishing this position he then took on carpentering in Dunedin and later he and his brother the late Alex Fraser, opened up a carpentering business in Queenstown. He was interested in boat building and attracted wide attention by many splendid dinghies he made.

Mr Fraser also made a number of riolins but one of his most treasured possessions was a violin his father had made which many acclaimed to be next to a Stradivarius. He was a violinist of no mean calibre and frequently his services were requested. He contributed freely at local concerts. Mr Fraser also taught the violin to a large number ef pupils. He was a member of the Queenstown Band for many years being their leading trombone player. Haying natural music ability he became precentor of the Presbyterian Church at the early age of fifteen and had connections with church choir work for over 70 years. 'As another hobby Mr Fraser constructed and experimented on small steam engines. He is survived by bis wife (formerly Miss. Margaret Whelan). Mr and Mrs Fraser celebrated their Golden Wedding some six months ago.

which is the mark of the Christian gentleman, were his very marked characteristics. His memorial lives in the hearts of those whom he met and who have been the better for knowing him. “Goodnight, dear friend, until morning.”

AN APPRECIATION (Contributed). “Twilight and evening bell, and after that the dark; And may there be no sadness of farewell when I embark.” At the age of S(>, our beloved frieitd John Fraser has gone to see bis Pilot fa«» t# face, full of honour and of years. Jock came as a small boy of seven to Queenstown in IS6H. His mother had brought him and his elder brother Alec out to New Zealand to join her husband. Colin was born in Dunedin, and Margaret (Mrs Murdoch) in Queenstown. Jock was the oldest member of l the Presbyterian Church at his death, having come here’one year before Mrs F. Mackenzie. When he first went to chinch he attended in the building which stood in the middle of Ballarat street near the school.

In achievement bis chiefest call to fame was musical. Here again he fol-

lowed his father as a maker of violins. He never had a. music lesson in his life, and yet at 15 he became precentor of the church choir and he maintained his connections with choir work for over 70 years. Less than a fortnight before hia death he was in his usual place in the choir at the afternoon service. But Jock will be remembered, not for what he has done, but for what he was. Hia gentleness, his keen appreciation of the least little service, and his readiness to nerve in any way open to him, sund the humility that takes; no offence