MR. C. RHODES' DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21346, 22 November 1932, Page 12

MR. C. RHODES' DEATH

LOSS TO COMMUNITY

WIDE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

FOUNDER OF ROTARY CLUB

The death occurred at his homo in Remuera yesterday of Mr. Charles Rhodes, one of tho best-known men in the commercial life of Auckland, at the ago of 72 years. His death came with unexpected suddenness and resulted from pneumonia supervening on a cold. Mr. Rhodes took a leading part in the industrial affairs of tho province, and his popularity and wide experience ensured for him a prominent place in many diverse avenues of activity. In fostering the human sido of business ho was a potent forco. His activities in connection with Rotary International wci'o strenuous and whole-hearted.

Born at Pokeno, his parents being pioneers of the district, Mr. Rhodes entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand and rose progressively, finally becoming manager for tho bank at Paeroa, a position ho held for several years. While in the service of the bank ho becamo intimately connected, as a buyer of bullion, with gold mining in tho Ohinemuri County, and qualified as an assayer. He also visited tho Australian goldfields of Broken Hill Kalgoorlio better to familiarise himself with the assaying and treatment of ore.

In 1882, prior to going to Paeroa, he was a member of the staff of tho bank at Cambridge. While at Cambridge he went on ono occasion on a picnic to Horahora and there saw the power of. the Waikato River running to waste. It was from that inspection that lie conceived the idea of tho development of tho Horahora hydro-electric works, which were put in hand by the Waihi Gold Mining Company, and which aro now operated by the Government. In tho following year, 1883, he was married to Jlrs. .Rhodes,, then Miss A. Houghton.

The Waihl Gold Mine

Leaving'the service of the bank to take up the management of Kauri Freehold Gold Estates, Limited, an enterprise which developed properties on tho Coromandel Peninsula, he subsequently came to Auckland, in 1900, and joined the office of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, then in charge of the late Mr. Robert Hose. Upon the death of Mr. Rose soon afterwards, he was appointed New Zealand director and attorney for the Waihi Gold Mining Company. He was also appointed general manager of the New Zealand Mines Trust. At that period the Mines Trust was playing a very active part in the gold mining of the province, and Mr. Rhodes quickly came to the foro as one of the leading mining authorities in New Zealand. In 1913 he retired from the active management of the trust and was appointed director for the trust in New Zealand. He then commenced to take a greater part in the general commercial life of the city. In the 32 years of his association with it, the Waihi mine produced gold valued at £17,000,000.

Among his commercial activities, Mr. Rhodes was a director of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Limited, Northern Steamship Company, Limited, Milne and Choyce, Limited, Wilsons (N.Z.) Portland Cement, Limited, Bycroft, Limited, and the Kauri Timber Company, Limited. He served as chairman on a number of directorates. Flags were flown at halfmast yesterday from the premises of companies with which Mr. Rhodes was connected and from vessels in port.

Mr. Rhodes was a director of the Auckland Electric Tramways Company, which organised and developed the electric tramway system of the city. When the system was taken over by the Auckland City Council he acted as attorney in negotiating tho transfer.

Founder of Rotary Club

Education was a sphere in which Mr. Rhodes took a keen interest, and for several years he was a member of the Auckland University College Council. Ho was also a director of St. Cuthbert's College. He was always prominent in any endeavours made to raise funds for the Jubilee Institute for the Blind, and when funds were needed to enlarge the premises at Parnell ho - was one of a number of business men who mado a personal canvass and raised a large sum of money for the purpose. In 1918 he was a member of the Defence Expenditure Commission. The very keen interest taken by Mr. Rhodes in tho Rotary organisation found expression in a vigorous activity on behalf of the Auckland Rotary Club, of which ho was a founder, and in the interests of the movement at large.'With Sir George Fowlds ho was virtually responsible for the introduction of tho movement in New Zealand, and in association with Sir George was responsible for the formation of 21 of the 23 clubs in the Dominion.

Upon the Auckland Rotary Club being established, Sir George Fowlds was appointed president and Mr. Rhodes vicepresident.. In tho club's second year of existence, Mr. Rhodes served as president. Honoured by Organisation

Subsequently ho held oflico as New Zealand district governor of Rotary, and was accorded the further honour of appointment. as a director of Rotary International. Ho attended conferences of the organisation in Australia, Japan and the jjnited States, as representative of the movement in New Zealand. For many years he gavo a weekly reception to fellow llotarians, who gathered on Friday evenings at his homo at Remuera. The regard in which Mr. Rhodes was hold by Rotarians was demonstrated by tho gift, in part, by the Auckland Rotary Club of the stained glass window erected in St. Luke's Church. Remuera, as a memorial to the late Miss Edna Rhodes, ono of Till - . Rhodes' daughters.

Mr. Rhodes is survived by Mrs. Rhodes, two sons, Messrs. E. 11. and E. N. Rhodes, and two daughters, Mrs. C. H. Furness and Miss 0. M. Rhodes, all of Auckland. The funeral will leave the residence, 96 Remuera Road, at three o'clock this afternoon for Purewa cemetery.