DEATH OF PIONEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 12

DEATH OF PIONEER.

MR. ARTHUR SWARBRiCK. LONG SERVICE IN HAMILTON. WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.} HAMILTON. Monday. Tftn death occurred this afternoon of an old Waikato identity, Mr. Arthur Swarbrick, senior partner in the firm of Swarbrick and Swarbrick, solicitors, Hamilton, aged 76 years. Mr. Swarbrick was born in Derby, England, and came to New Zealand when about 25 years of age. He took up farming at Kirikiriroa, now Claudclands, Hamilton. While farming lur, Swarbrick became connected with the law office of Mr. McGregor Hay, solicitor, Hamilton, and in 1892 he gave up his rural occupation and took over the practice or Mr. Hay. Mr. Swarbrick became recognised as an authority on local body government. He had been solicitor to the Waikato County Council since 1892, solicitor to the Hamilton Borough Council since 1900, and solicitor to practically every other local body in the district, including the Wuipa County Council, and a number of dr.imago and road boards. There was hardly an activity in Hamilton with which Mr. Swarbrick had not been associated. _ He was the first president of the Hamilton Law Society, choirmaster at St. Peter's Churcn, president of Hamilton's first operatic society, managing director and secretary in 1887 of Hamilton's first dairy company, the Waikato Cheese and Bacon Company. He was a foundation member of the Hamilton Club, a member of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association and a steward of the Waikato Racing Club. Services lor Church, In the early days Mr. Swarbrick was keenly interested in theatricals and he promoted a number of successful amateur performances. He was president of the Hamilton Bowing Club and was one of trie early masters of Beta Waikato Masonic Lodge, for 40 years Mr. Swarbrick was a lay reader, a member of the vestry, and choirmaster at St. Peter's Church, and his services during the time the parish was short of clergy are gratefully remem bered by many old parishioners. When the Waikato Diocese was established last year Mr. Swarbrick was appointed diocesan chancellor and m that capacity he officiated at the consecration of Bishop Sherrington on December 12. During the last 14 years Mr. Swarbrick had principally confined his public services to furthering the interests of the Hamilton Domain Board and in this connection his death will be greatly felt. Mr. Swarbrick became chairman when the Domain Board was established in 1913, and except lor a break of v two years, was chairman until his death. Mr. SwarbricK threw himself wholeheartedly Into the work of administering the large area ol domain grounds with which Hamilton has been liberally endowed. Work for Domain Board.

The board had little funds and Mr. Swarbnck devoted a great deal of time every day in supervising the work of the employees and regularly rose early. in the. morning to do this. ..He did great service to the community in sucees&fully piloting the exchange of town area ui the Palmerston Estate, then domain land, for the St. Andrew's golf links at Te Rapa, and thus enabled the Golf Club to form what the late Lord Northciiffe described as the finest golf course in New Zealand. The whole of the Palmerston Estate is now built on. Mr. Bwarwick Took special interest in the Hamilton bake Domain, and under his care remarkable improvements have been carried out in that area for the benefit of townspeople.

Mrs. Swarbrick died sn May, 1926. Mr. Swarbrck was in attendance at his office up to a tew weeks ago, when illness compelled hirn to relinquish work. He is survived by three sons and a daughter, Messrs. P. A. Swarbrick, L. P. Swarbrick and H. A. Swarbrick, and Mrs. C. H. Holloway, of Hamilton. The interment wTTi lie private.