OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22907, 15 June 1936, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR C. W. H. SPEARS The death occurred on Friday last of an old Dunedin resident in the pertsoii of Mr C. W. H. Spears, of George street, who had reached his seventy-seventh year. His parents landed in Geulong, Victoria, from England, in 1855, and a few years later came to Dunedin. Hia father, Mr Henry Spears, was a wellknown builder and contractor during the early years of Dunedin's history. Mr Spears' was three years old when the family arrived in Duuedin, and for nearly 74 years had been a resident of this city. He" had seen Dunedin grow from its early stages and his reminiscences concerning the early days were particularly interesting. He was associated with the Hanover Street Baptist Church for a very long period. He was a member of the church for over 40 years, and was one of the foundation scholars who attended the Sunday school when it was held in the old Planet sawmill. He was also an active and enthusiastic member of the Central Mission Men's Brotherhood and took a deep interest in the religious and social work of all denominations. He was of a very cheerful disposition and was respected by all who knew him as he was never actuated by motives of self-interest, but always had the well-being of his fellow men at heart. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon in the Northern cemetery, the officiating ministers being the Rev. L. B. Neale (Methodist) and the Rev. Ewcn Simpson (Baptist). He is survived by his wife and two eons, Mr A. Spears (Hampden) and Mr W. H. Spears (Dunedin ).

MR RICHARD WATKINS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 13. The death has occurred of Mr Richard Watkins, aged 81. He saw active service during the Great War, and was, it is claimed, the oldest member of the A.I.F. He enlisted in 1915 at the age of 01. His statement that lie was 44 wa« never questioned.

SIR JOHN BOWNER MELBOURNE, June 13. The 'death is announced of Sir John Bowner, politician, journalist, and agriculturist. He was in the Victorian Legislative Assembly for an unbroken period of 35 years. He was Speaker for three years, and for a brief period was Premier.

DR M. R. JAMES LONDON, June 12. (Received Juno 14, at 5.5 p.m.) The death occurred this afternoon, st the age of 73, of the Provost of Eton and the former Provost of King's College at Cambridge, Dr M. R. James, following a eeverc heart attack yesterday. He was vice-chancellor at Cambridge from 1913 to 1015. A scholar in the more recondite branches of archaeology, whose learned works on ancient and mediaeval manuscripts appealed to specialists, Dr James also acquired popular fame as a writer of ghe*t stories. He received the Order of Merit in 1930.

MAJOR ARTHUR BATHURST

LONDON, June 13, (Received June 14, at 10 p.m.)

The death has occurred of Major Arthur Henry Pal hurst, Lord Bledisloe's brother and*military secretary in New Zealand.