Kawakawa Citizen Dies At Sea: Mr. C. F. C. Miller

Northern Advocate, 20 March 1939, Page 4

Kawakawa Citizen Dies At Sea: Mr. C. F. C. Miller

[Special to “Northern Advocate’’} CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday.

The Blue Star Line motor-ship Empire Star, which left Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon for London via Cape Horn, arrived off Lyttelton Heads ,at midnight tonight, and transferred to a launch the body of a passenger, Mr Charles Frederick' Chipman Miller, of Kawakawa, Northland, who died this afternoon. It is understood that he became ill early this morning, and as his condition was serious Captain S. M. Capon decided to return to Lyttelton when the boat was 17 hours out, which was approximately 250 miles. The Empire Star was only a few hours from land when Mr Miller died. Speed had been increased for the return journey, and this was maintained until the boat arrived at Lyttelton, where it stopped about two miles outside the heads, where the body was transferred to a police launch. On Health Trip

Mr Miller, who was on a six months’ health trip to Great Britain, was found in a state of collapse in his cabin. A doctor was aboard the vessel, but Mr Miller was so critically ill that ft was decided to put back to New Zealand. Deceased was aged 54. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and the University. Soon after obtaining his degree, he joined the legal firm of Reed and Blundell at Kawakawa, becoming senior partner on the retirement of Mr Vernon Reed. He was a director of a chain of Northland picture theatres and owned a farming property at Kaitaia. Ex Bay Hospital Chairman

In the public life of the Bay of Island, Mr Miller took a prominent part until recently, when he confined his interests to the Hospital Board, ’of which he was chairman until the last election.

His wife died last year. There are four children. Miss Jocelyn Miller (Kawakawa), Mr Peter Miller, of the New Zealand Insurance Co., Auckland; Wendy, at the Diocesan High School; and Prudence, a schoolgirl at Kawakawa.