OBITUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20997, 9 April 1930, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR S. S. MYERS. The death occurred last 'night, at 17 Elder street, of Mr S. S. Myers, a wellknown Dunedin dentist; Mr Myers, who was born in Liverpool, first saw the light of day on September 14, 1852. A spice of romance came into his life as early as his baptismal day, when the Christian names of Septimus Solomon Arthur Wellington Daniel were bestowed upon him. Apparently various considerations of a widely divergent nature entered into the calculations ot the parents in connection with this all* important event. The fact that Mr Myers was the seventh son accounts for the names Septimus and Solomon, and the additional fact that he was born on the day on which the Duke of Wellington died led to the names mentioned above being supplemented by Arthur and Wellington, By this time the child’s father thought he should be in the picture, and therefore his Christian name (Daniel) was added to an already somewhat formidable list. The boy carried bis burden of names with ease, and, affectionately known ns S. S. Myers, he went on to reach an age well past the allotted span. His death will be deeply regretted by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He possessed a most genial nature, an<j every one who was acquainted with him held him in the highest respect as a gentleman in every sense of the woifil. Mr Myers, who adopted dentistry as a profession, arrived in Dunedin by the Lady Egidia in 1868, and during the greater part of the intervening years played ' a prominent part in a remarkably large number of activities of value to the _ community generally, relinquishing his numerous offices only when advancing years compelled him to take . a rest. He served the people faithfully for many years on various public bodies, and was a prominent member of numerous organisations which have done a great deal- of good in encouraging clean and healthy sport amongst the young people. It can safely be said of Mr Myers that if he, took an

interest in anything he was not content to be a mere figurehead, but always worked hard to secure the best results, sparing neither time nor money in his efforts to promote success, and it may be added that any movement for the welfare of the city and province was staunchly supported by him. For more than 30 years Mr Myers placed his services at the disposal of the public in numerous ways, and the appreciation in which he was held is shown by the fact that some of the positions held by him were relinquished only when he insisted on retiring, much to the regret of those associated with him. During a lengthy residence in NorthEast Valley in his younger days he was one of. the leading figures in the public life of the community. He was Mayor of the borough, which then had an existence apart from the city, for five years, and he also held the position of chairman of the local' school committee. At that time a North-East Valley Licensing Committee was in operation, and Mr Myers held the position of chairman of that body. Subsequently North-East Valley was included in the Port Chalmers Licensing District, and he then became a member of the Port Chalmers Licensing Committee, In later years he became a member of the City Council, and for a period of three years he was chairman of the Tramways Committee. He was a candidate for the mayoralty of the city in 1915, and in a triangular contest h'i was defeated by Mr J. J. Clark. The voting on that occasion was:—Mr Clark, 6783 votes; Mr,Myers, 5220; Mr Marlow, 3911. This contest marked Mr Myers's retirement from public life, though he continued to hold office in other bodies for many years. Mr Myers was an enthusiastic supporter of the Volunteer movement i i the days before the territorial forces came into existence, and devoted many years of service in the interests of our defence forces, rising from the rank of private to the honourable position of lieutenantcolonel in command of the Otago Rifle Volunteers. He took commissioned rank with the North Dunedin Rifles, of which he was captain, and was subsequently promoted to, the rank of major of the let. Battalion, Otago Rifle Volunteers, while still later he attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He received the V.D. in recognition of his long and faithful services, Hospital and charitable aid work engaged Mr Myerss attention for several years. .He was one of the Hospital Trustees prior to. the establishment of the present Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He was one of the original members of the latter body, which came into existence in 1910, and held office until 1915, when he did not seek re-election. During bis term of office he held at various times the position of chairman of the Hospital Commit'oe and chairman of the Sanatorium Committee.

It is doubtful whether any other man in Dunedin has ever been actively associated with so many bodies catering for sport and various forms of athletics as Mr Myers was. ‘ AH forms of racing, cricket, football, coursing, boxing, cycling, rowing, and yachting received hia support, and in all of these organisations be held official positions at one time or another. He was a steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club from October, 1897, when he filled a vacancy caused by the resignation of.Mr J. H. Jowitt, till 1925, and in recognition of his services he had the honour of life membership bestowed upon him on July 20, 1926. After the death of Mr P. Miller the deceased and Mr James Gow were the only two life members of the chib. At one time he figured prominently amongst the list of owners, having no fewer than 19 gallopers in training in addition to some trotting horses. On one occasion he and Mr F. J. Townsend set out from Dunedin together in a gig and by using six changes of horses which had been previously sent to various towns, between here and Christchurch, completed the journey in what was probably record time, saw the New Zealand Cup, and started on the return journey immediately afterwards. Mr Myers was one of the early members of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club (now the Forbury Park Trotting Club), which was formed in 1892. and after being vice-president for some years he became president in 1897. He held the latter position till 1006, and in" the same year ho was elected patron of the club. He lias been a life member of the club for nearly 20 years, sharing that honour with Mr L. C. Hazlett since 1921. The inaugural meeting of the Otago Hunt Club, which was formed in 1911, was held in Mr Myers’s rooms. He was the first president of the club, and after holding that position from 1911 till 1915 ho was patron for about six years. He was associated with the Opoho and Anderson’s Bay Cricket Clubs, in each of which he held the office of vice-president. His interest in football was devoted to the Association code, He was the first president of the Otago Football Association, which was formed about 1890, and held that office for some 32 years, when advancing age compelled him to retire. Since his retirement from the presidency he has been patron of the association.' He took an exceptionally keen interest in coursing, and at one time his kennels, which were situated at Tapanui, were amongst the finest in New Zealand, as many as 30 greyhounds being in training at the same time. He was a very prominent leashman for several years, and was an expresident of the New Zealand Coursing Association, The Otago Boxing Association had the benefit of Mr Myere’s services as an executive officer fox a. lengthy

period, and at the time of his death he was a life member of that body. in nis younger days the deceased was an cntliusiastic cyclist, and he derived greatpleasure from almost innumerable tours in ms spare time, covering extensive in a very short space of He was at one time president of the Otago Cycling Club, which was then an organisation of considerable strength. Aquatic sports had a staunch friend in Mr MV > who took a keen interest in both rowing and yachting. He had held office president of the Otago Yacht 1 tion and commodore of the O , • Club, but probably his greatest interest in this branch of sports was ccntred in the North End Boating Club; of Ich T jjj® was one of the foundation • j club was formed in the early uinetic , he held the position of president frorri its inception until his retir ”La°TaUon years ago, when he was elected p> in recognition of hm valued supp the attainment of his majority ‘ P t dent he was the recipient of a P ies s. n tio” of a handsome clock and salver from the club members. He was a member m of the Otago Harbour Board from 1888 till 1890. -ninmsiirrs One of Mr Myers’s gi-eatcst plcabi rcs especially in his years^ivas^derjved keen^phiyer^o^ 1 Considerable ability many years, and was one of the e. J champions of the club. He held of president on two occasions, and alter the death of Sir William 8m he elected patron, To complete the list oi Mr Myers’s activities it must bG I " G^ 1 1 ™ that lie has been chairman °f thc be ioo s Committees’ Conference, president of the Dunedin Poultry Club president of the Dunedin Fanciers' Club, and president of the New Zealand Poultry Association, He was the first chairman of the diioctors Of the Southern. Starr-Bnwkett Society bolding that position from 189 G till the day of his death. He was appointed a Justice of the peace many years ago. Mr Myers was a member of the Masonic . Order, and for two years he was Master of Lodge No. 622, S.C. He was also a past grand treasurer of the Otago and Southland District Grand Lodge. A summary of Mr Myers's rccoid is interesting. He was associated with almost 30 different organisations, and was at the head of affairs on at least 18 of them, while he was vice-president or chairman of committee on five others. Apart from the practice of his profession, he was associated in business with Mr H. Divers for some years, but he retired from this connection about five years ago. Mr Myers did not enjoy good health for the last year or so, and his illness took a serious turn a few weeks before his death. His wife died about three years ago. and he is survived by mn* daughter (Mrs Dingweli), who lives » the North Island,

MR FREDERICK MARTIN. Mr Frederick Martin, who died suddenly in Christchurch on Sunday, aged 74 years, came to New Zealand from England about 1878, and filled a position with Messrs Saunders and .vl'Bcth, of Dunedin. He joined the staff of Messrs Kirknldie and Laing, Wellington, and then came to Dunedin to join the D.I.C. He went to Christchurch, when that company opened a branch in that city. Later he joined the staff of Messrs J. Ballantyne and' Co. about 1888. He left that firm in 1910, and visited the Old Country. On returning to Christchurch he engaged in private business. He was appointed manager of Messrs Ballantyne and Co.’s Timaru branch, retiring about 1924. MR WILLIAM P. HARDING. A PROMINENT AMERICAN. (United Press Association.) (By. Electric! Telegraph- -Copyright.) NEW YORK, April 7. A report from Boston states that Mr William P. Harding, ex-Goyernor of the Federal Reserve Board, died to-day from heart disease.