OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20870, 12 May 1931, Page 12

OBITUARY.

LADY STOUT. * INTEREST IN PUBLIC LIFE. [RY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Lady Stout, widow of Sir Robert Stout, formerly Chief Justico of« New Zealand, died last night at tho ago of 72 years. Lady Stout was formerly Miss Anna Patcrson Logan, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. .John Logan, who were well-known residents of Otago. Sho was married to Sir Robert ill 3876, 12 years after Sir Robert arrived at Dunedin from his birthplace, Lerwick, in the Shetland Islands, and two years after his election to the Otago Provincial Council. Sho was prominently concerned in many public movements and was an enthusiastic supporter of the extension of civic powers to women. During a visit to England prior to the Great War, she gave active support to the woman suffrage movement, which, at that time, was among the most urgent national questions in Great Britain. Lady Stout always showed the greatest interest in the important public movements in which Sir Robert participated during his long service for New Zealand. Her husband's efforts in educational and temperance reforms earned her active, unassuming support, and some of his legislative measures certainly reflected the ideal for which Lady Stout worked. Sir Robert's chancellorship of the University of New Zealand from 1885 to 1923 saw Lady Stout take a great interest in the opportunities available for young women students. When their golden wedding was celebrated on December 29, 1926, Sir Robert's gift to his wife was £2OO. This amount Lady Stout presented to the Victoria College, Wellington, to assist in founding a scholarship, tho State providing a similar sum of money. At the time of the golden wedding, Lady Stout was described as " a born crusader," on account of the powers of initiative she had shown in many important movements.

Lady Stout accompanied Sir Robert on a visit of 12 months to the United Kingdom in 1921. Sir Robert had then been Chief Justice for nearly 22 years. He resigned his office in 1926 at the age of 82, and his aeath occurred when ho was 85 years old. Lady Stout's capacity in assisting her husband was perhaps best in evidence in the years immediately following his entry to Parliament in 1875, and during the two short periods of office of the Stout-Vogel Ministries. The family consists of Mr. J. Logan Stout, S.M., of Palmerston North, Dr. Robert Stout, Dr. Duncan Stout and Mr. Olaf Stout, of Wellington, and Mrs. Trevor Holmden. of Auckland. There are several grandchildren.

MR. A. J. WHITTAKER. The anxious period when Te Whiti, the Maori " prophet," induced 2000 natives to march round Ilawera was experienced by Mr. A. J. Whittaker, who died at the age of 79, at his residence, Vauxhall Road, Devonport. Mr. "Whittaker was born at Smethwick, Birmingham, where he was educated, and arrived at Wellington in 1874 by the ship Soukar. 110 was engaged in the drapery business in Wellington, Napier and Hawera. Shortly after his arrival in South Taranaki, native troubles became acute, and the settlers were compelled to form a volunteer corps. The men were called out several times a day, as the Maoris were .accustomed to enter the township and seize gpods. Business was at a standstill, and the Government offered a reward of £IOOO for the capture of the rebel chieftain Titokowaru. Mr. Whittaker lost heavily during these troubles and accepted employment on the New Plymouth-Waitara railway before receiving an appointment as a traveller, in 1882, he became a partner in a drapery business at Waitara, and later he resumed in Hawera. In 1879, Mr. Whittaker married Miss Guerin, the daughter of one of the oldest settlers in Taranaki. Ho was a member of the first Town Board in Hawera, one of the founders of the Hawera Choral Society, and took a prominent part in the Foresters' Order. Mr. Whittaker lived in Auckland for 24 years Mrs. Whittaker survives her husband, and the family consists of Mr. Edward Whittaker, Mount Eden, Mr. Leo Whittaker, One Tree Hill, Mr. Baden Whittaker, Devonport, Mrs. H. G. Archer, Epsom, Mrs. J. P. Hogan, Devonport, and four unmarried daughters.

MR. F. NIDDRIE. The death occurred yesterday of Mr. Frank Niddrie, a member of the staff of the Northern Roller Milling Company for 46 years, at the age of 73 years. Mr. Niddrie was prominently associated with the Labour movement in Auckland, being a former president of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, chairman of the Auckland Labour Day sports committee, andpresident of the Auckland Flourmillers' Union. As a mark of respect the company's flags were flown at half-mast yesterday. MR. MONTAGU LEWIN. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHEISTCHURCH. Monday. The death is announced of Mr. Montagu Lewin, aged 79. He was one of the foundation members of the Christchurch Rugby Football Club, having arranged tiie first oflieial match against- Otago. Before coming to New Zealand he had 'learned the game in England.