A SUDDEN PASSING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20337, 20 February 1928, Page 9

A SUDDEN PASSING.

PROMINENT DUNEDIN CITIZEN, DEATH OF MR CHARLES SPEIGHT. A prominent Dunedin citizen and busf» ness man in the person of Mr Charles Speight, C.8.E., died suddenly at his residence, Y T ork place, yesterday afternoon. Mr Speight, who was 63 years of age, was apparently enjoying his usual good health up to yesterday morning, and hia passing came as a great shock to his family and friends. During a morning walk in the city he became unwell, and. after being motored home, he retired to bed with a book. Hia death, which is attributed to heart failure, occurred without warning a few hours later. Mr Speight, who was one of the best" known and most popular figures in local business and club circles, was bora in Dunedin in 1865, and remained in the city of his birth throughout his life. His parents, Mr and Mrs James Speight, arrived in New Zealand in 1861, and settled in this city. In 1876 Mr James Speight founded the important brewing business with which his son, aftei; being educated at the Normal School (now known as the Moray Place School), became associated in 1881. While Mr Charles Speight gave close attention to the affairs of his own business, he took a keen and helpful interest in most movements of public concern in the city. Prior to the brewery merger four years ago Mr Speight was managing director of the firm of James Speight and Co., and from that time was manager of the Dunedin branch of New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., and a member of the board of directors of that concern. His first important public service was performed during the Boer War, when he became a member of the Organising Committee that was responsible for raising and equipping the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, and he was prominently asso. ciated with the work of promoting the welfare of the men on their return. During the last war Mr Speight was quickly provided with a useful sphere of activity in a similar capacity, and he assisted m organising the carnivals and other efforts planned for the welfare of the men. He was a member of the Otago Patriotic Association, which controls the expenditure of the funds raised for this and was deputy chairman of the Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee. In this capacity he quietly and unostentatiously devoted a great deal of time and care to the welfare of the men on their return. Being naturally of an unobtrusive nature, he worked in the interests or his fellow-men largely without the knowledge of the public, and repeated acts of generosity that sprang from his unfailing Kindness were known only to his closest friends and associates. _ . With the organisation and opening Qi. the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition of 1925-26 Mr Speight came prominently under public notice in most recent times. He was associated with the enterprise from its inception, being a member of the Advisory Committee which was set up at a meeting of citizens on February 15. 1923, convened by the Mayor (Mr - T S. Douglas) for the purpose of discussing the proposal to hold an exhibition. On October 1, 1923, when the exhibition directorate was elected by a meeting of shareholders, hia name appeared first in the list of directors appointed, and he later became vice-chairman of the board and chairman of the Finance Committee. In the initial stages of the great undertaking at Logan _ Park, and throughout its course, he gave it his wholehearted attention, devoting a very considerable portion of his time to committee work as well as to general organising and management tasks. No member of the Board of Directors laboured with, greater or more conscientious zeal,_ and' much of the success of the exhibition, both fintncially and from a public point of view, was due to the exceptional business acumen and sound, level-headed judgment which was displayed by him at bis seat at the directors’ table. The personal element which entered so largely into his connection with the exhibition was greatly appreciated by all whose business brought them into contact with the directorate and management, and even the most trivial of the many matters with which, he was concerned received his direct_ and untiring attention. After the exhibition, had been opened a great proportion of his time was spent in promoting the welfare of the members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Baud, in whom he took a never-flagging and almost fatherly interest. Every bandsman learned to know that his work and activities in Dunedin had been made a matter for Mr Speight’s personal concern* and much of the smoothness and success with which the affairs of the baud were managed during its sojourn in Dunedin was due to his tact and organising ability. For his work as vice-chairman of the Exhibition Company Mr Speight received the distinction of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s Birthday honours list last year. He was a shareholder in a number of local companies, in several of which he held directorships. He did not disdain the humble service of membership of a school,committee, for he was a member of the Arthur Street Committee for several years, and its chairman since the last annual meeting. , In his younger days Mr Speight was actively connected with cycling and volunteering. He was a member of the Dunedin Cycling Club, the Dunedin Rifle Club and the “B ” Battery. He was also a keen yachtsman, and throughout his life remained closely associated with tha aquatic, sport, and actively concerned in its interests. He was appointed a lieutenant in (the Naval Reserve as a result of hia associations in yachting; and allied circles, and ho took a special interest in the Sanders Cup contest, the H-footor Winifred, an Otago competitor for the trophy, being built to his order and under his careful supervision in regard to design and equipment. The boat was named after his only daughter. He was a past president of tha Caledonian Society of_ which he was treasurer at the time of his death, and a past president of the Otago Bowling Club. Hia interest extended to all manly sports, and he might regularly be seen among tha spectators at all important cricket and Rugby football matches in Dunedin, whila latteriy he derived much enjoyment from a friendly game of golf on Saturday afternoons, He was a popular and prominent member of the Otago Club, and a member also of both the Fernhill end the Commercial Travellers' Clubs.

Mr Speight loaves bis wife and a family of four sons and a daughter to mourn their loss. Dr Norman Speight, his eldest son, is in practice in Dunedin; Mr Allan Spoight, his second son, manages the Red', cliff run, near Lake Manapouri (Southland) ; Mr Hugh Speight is in business in his father's firm ; and the youngest son, 'Mr Colin Speight is on the Redcliff run. His daughter. Miss Winifred Speight, resides at home. Four members of the family to which he belonged are resident in Near Zealand. His brother, Mr Waller Speight, lives in Dunedin, and his sisters are Mrs T. D. Pearce, of Invercargill, Mrs G. Frier, of Wellington and Mrs W. Livingston, of Wellington. The only other member of the family was Mrs Frank Holmes, of Wellington, who died some 12 months ago.