OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21404, 31 January 1933, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR. WILLIAM DENSEM Mr. William Densem, formerly a teacher of music and of elocution in Christchurch, died in Wellington last week at the age of 74. His career in New Zealand extended over a period of 50 years. Ho was an Englishman by birth, and first took up his residence in New Zealand in Dunedin, where, in addition to teaching music and elocution, lie took part in amateur operatic performances, in which his previous experience on the. stage was of great value to the jjthers taking part in them. Among other operas in which Mr. Densem appeared in Dunedin was Gilbert and Sullivan's - "Pirates of Penzance." lie went to Christchurch about 30 years ago, and by his talents us an actor and as a teacher ho soon became prominent in musical and dramatic circles. In 1905, when the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society produced "The Mikado," he scored a big success as Ivo-Ivo, arid the production was under his personal direction. MRS. R. M. PEMBERTON The death has occurred at Mat a mat a of Mrs. Leila Catherine Peinberton, aged '67. Mrs. Pemberton, who was the daughter of tho late Mr. Hamilton Moore, was bora in the Hangitikci district. She married Mr. Robert M. Pemberton, a civil engineer in Canterbury, and later resided at Waikari. After her husband's death in 1894, she lived in Palmerston North, subsequently farming in tho Ashhurst and 'l'irau districts. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. J. W. Seton, of Tirau, and Mrs. N. Fitzlierbert, of Pularuru, and six grandchildren. MR. J. A. BENNETT [bv telec;raj>h—own correspondent] THAMES, Monday A highly-respected resident of Turua, Mr. James A. Bennett, died last week, aged 58 years. Ho was born in England and camo to New Zealand as A young man, finally taking up land in tho Turua district, when thero was littlo settlement there. Ho volunteered for servico in 1914 and sailed with tho first contingent, being badly wounded at tho Battle of tho Somme. In spite of this, ho saw tho Great War through, and returned to tho Dominion. Ho later became foreman of tho Hauraki Drainage Board. Mr. Bennett was one of the promoters of tho Turua Boys' Band, and was secretary at tho time of his death. A widow and six children survive him.