OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 9

OBITUARY

DR R. H. PITCAITHLY Widespread sorrow was felt in Hunterville and district when last week the news was received of the death of Dr E. H. Pitcaithly at Hanmer Springs, where he had been for a short while owing to a breakdown in health. Born in Waimate 34 years ago, the eldest son of the late Mr George Pitcaithly and Mrs Pitcaithly, he was educated at the Waimate High School and Auckland Grammar School, and was both a junior and senior national scholar, before entering the Otago Medical School, where he graduated in 1926. Dr Pitcaithly then held medical appointments in Nelson, Palmerston North, and Wanganui before taking up his practice in Hunterville in 1929.

MR JOHN CHRISTOPHER

Mr John Christopher, whose death took place at Dunedin recently, was a wellknown and highly-respected resident of Waikaia for many years. He was born at Penzance, Cornwall, England, in 1853, and when 16 years of age came out to New Zealand with his father and other relatives. In contrast to these days of fast travelling, the voyage took 90 days. Attracted by glowing tales of the goldfields, they went to Naseby, where they followed mining pursuits for several years. Subsequently Mr Christopher worked at Oamaru and Timaru, but eventually he returned to Naseby, and, having married, he settled on a farm, which he later disposed of and went to Waikaia over 30 years ago. He was on the Muddy Creek race during its construction, and afterwards was raceIceeper for the Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company until nine years and a-half ago, when he retired and settled in the

township. Always a very strong man, his health began to fail about a year ago and about the middle of September he suffered a stroke and was admitted to hospital at Dunedin. Although of a retiring disposition, hits honest and upright character won for him the sincere respect of all with whom he came into contact. He was an ardent worker for St. Mary's Anglican Church and his splendid bass voice was an asset to the choir. He is survived by his widow, one son, Mr F. Christopher (Dunedin), and four daughters, Mesdames C. Hall (Perth, Western Australia), A. J. Hall, W. Curric and J. Flinders, all of whom reside at Dunedin.