OBITUARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 12

OBITUARY.

DR. F. J. RAYNER. DEATH AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS. The death of Dr. Frederick John Rayner occurred in a private hospital yes(onlay morning after a brief illness. Bora in Toronto, Canada, 56 years Bgo, Dr. Rayner was the son of Mr. Samuel Rayner, formerly an officer in the Imperial Army and a veteran of the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. He had a brilliant scholastic career at the Toronto and Chicago Universities, and at the early age of 20 he gained the degree of doctor of dentistry. Five years later, in 1900, lie came to Auckland, where he practised his profession for a number of years. Apart from his profession Dr. Rayner had extensive commercial interests, lift was connected with tli6 promotion of several theatrical enterprises, and he was governing director of Amalgamated Theatres, Limited, a company which controls 15 picture theatres. Sport also claimed Dr. Rayner's attention and he was one of the most prominent members of the Auckland Trotting Club and a successful owner of racehorses. He took an active part in the formation of the Auckland Gun Club and also of the Auckland Automobile Association, being the first president and a life member of the lattor organisation. Fishing was another of his hobbies and ho frequently visited Lake Rotoiti, where he had a fishing lodge. Dr. Ravner was married at the age of 21 to Miss Ethel McLeod. of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. His wife died two years ago while, visiting America and his only relative in New Zealand is Mr. F. W. Prouling, a nephew. 1 hers are two sisters and a brother residing in Toronto and another sister in Minnesota, United States. The interment will take place at Hillsborough Cemetery to-morrow afternoon.

MR. EDWARD HEWITT. The dpath has occurred, at the age of 64 years, of Mr. Edward Hewitt, a wellknown resident of Northcote, where he had lived for the past 33 years. He was born in Birmingham, and educated at the Birmingham University. He came to Auckland 37 years ago, and for the past 29 years had been employed ut the Colonial Sugar Company's refinery at Chelsea. Ho took an active interest in outdoor sports, particularly aquatics, and ho sailed his yacht Tootsie to victory on several • occasions at the Northcote regatta. Mr. Hewitt's wife predeceased him 20 years ago, and he is survived by three sons, Messrs. E. J. L. Hewitt, of Russell, N. D. Hewitt, of Papatoetoe, and J. A. Hewitt, of Northcote, and four daughters, Mrs. N. Harvey, of Northcote, Mrs. W. Bugg, of Northcote, Mrs. F. Hayes, of Penrose, and Miss Olive F. Hewitt, of Northcote. There are nine grandchildren. MR. A. ERIKSEN. The death occurred in Auckland yesterday of Mr. A. Eriksen, at the age of 92 years. Leaving Norway in the ship Hoeding, Mr. Eriksen was one of a large group of Norwegians who settled in the Seventy Mile Bush country, which, when cut up into 50-ncre sections to be run on the cooperative system, was given the name of Norse wood. The name, was suggested by Mr. Eriksen. The struggle of the immigrants at Norsewood was a hard one. They paid £1 an acre for their land and worked their places co-opera-tively as best they could. Being disheartened with progress, Mr. Eriksen started to walk the. 70 miles to Napier, fording the rivers. Over the last 20 miles lie received a lift in a cart. He obtained work at his trade. Later he worked at Palmerstou North and became interested in farm property. He retired and came to Auckland 22 years ago, buying a business and land opposite the Sandringhain school. Air.. Eriksen was the only surviving member of a family of eleven. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ellen Eriksen, of Halesowen Avenue, Sandringham. one daughter, Mrs. A. C. Smith, of Mount Albert, and one son, ■Mr. A. Eriksen, of Royal Oak. MRS. ANNIE DRUMMOND. The death occurred on Monday of Mrs. Annie Drummond, of Glenmore, aged 73 years, after a short illness. She was the widow of the late Mr. Robert Drumniond. Mrs. Drummond was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and came to Auckland on the ship Fernglen in 1875. She' married shortly after her arrival and lived for several years in Auckland, later settling near Matakohe, in the Kaipara district, where she resided for 26 years. She relumed to Auckland four years before her husband's death in 1924. Mrs. Drummond is survived by two daughters, Mrs. R. H. Colebrook, of Mount Albert, and Mrs. C. J. Martin, of Glenmore, and three sons, Mr. C. Drummond, of Leeds, England; Mr. A. Drummond, of Auckland; and Air. L. Drummond, of Putararu.

MRS. ALICE PENDERGRAST. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] FUKEKOHE, Tuesday. The death occurred at Pukekohe yesterday of Mrs. Alice Pendergfßst. aged 72 years, widow of the late Mr. Robert I'eudergrast, a pioneer settler ,of the L'okeno district. Mrs. Pendergrast was a daughter of the late Captain Gordon, who came to New Zealand from India over 60 years ago and settled near Pokeiio. I'or many years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pendergrast resided on a farm just above the Pokeno Valley. They later removed to Mangatawhiri Valley. About 17 years ago Mr. Pendergrast retired, and they then took Up their residence in Auckland. Since the death of her husband, three years ago, Mrs. Pendergrast has resided in Pukekohe. She is survived by 50 descendants. There are five sons and three, daughters, 40 grandchildren and two great-grand-children. MRS. M. P. CLARK. [FROM _ OUR OWN CORtfKSrONIIENT.] CAMBRIDGE. Tuesday. Die death occurred on Saturday of another old resident of the district, Mrs. Marv Preston Clark, wife of the Rev. C. W. Clark, of the parish church, after an illness extending over three weeks. Mrs Clark had resided in New Zealand for 60 years, having come to the Dominion with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. iamuel Crickott, in the ship Helenslea. . , ) was carried in 1887 and had resided iu Cambridge the greater part of her life, bho is survived by her husband.