OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22056, 12 March 1935, Page 12

OBITUARY

MRS. E. R. STODDART

The death has occurred in Auckland of Mrs. Elizabeth Rachael Stoddart at the ago of 87 years. Mrs. Stoddart was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to Now Zealand with her parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Potter, in the ship Nimrod in 1862. They landed at Auckland and reside_d at Newmarket for a few years. In 1870 the family took up a farm at Pukekohe. Her marriage to Mr. John Stoddart took place -in 1874 and the couple went to Papatoetoe where they worked a small farm. After leaving Papatoetoe they took up a similar farm at Otahuhu where they resided until the death of Mr. Stoddart in 1919. Since then Mrs. Stoddart had resided at Mount Eden. There was no family. Mrs. Stoddart would have been 88 in May and was eleven months older than her brother, Mr. John Potter, formerly of Bombay, who now lives at Takapuna. Mrs. H. Bilkey, of Pukekohe, is a sister. MRS FRANCES FLETCHER An interesting personality passed with the death last week of Mrs. Frances Ann Fletcher, of Norana Avonue, Remuera. in her 89th year. Mrs. Fletcher was the daughter of Mr. W. Stamper, an English barrister and a pioneef- settler at Nelson. Although educational facilities were meagre, her parents found means to have her taught music, and she received lessons in painting from John Gully, who is regarded by many as the ablest of the early New Zealand water-colour artists and whose only pupil she was. At 16 Miss Stamper was married to Mr. John Johnston Fletcher, a Christchurch merchant, and a member of the firm of Fletcher, Humphreys and Company. For many years she was a very popular hostess in Christchurch and her home was always open to people of intellectual interests. After her husband's death, Mrs. Fletcher made two visits to Europe, and finally, some 17 years ago, she settled in Auckland. Here she continued her literary and artistic pursuits, contributing to magazines of the Theosophical Society and showing water-colours at the annual exhibitions of the Auckland Society of Arts. In her 80th year she became one of the foundation members of the Pemvomen's Club, and took a large share in its activities until a few months before her death. She was regarded by all who know her as a woman of rare culture, and an outstanding personality.

Mrs. Fletcher leaves a son, Mr. Edwin Fletcher, of Queensland, and three daughters, Miss Faith Fletcher, of Remuera, Mrs. J. Luckens, of Wnitakere, and Mrs. Guppy, who resides in England. Another son was killed in the Great War.