OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23097, 25 January 1937, Page 10

OBITUARY

MRS G. M. BAKER The death occurred on Saturday of Mrs G. M. Baker, who was widely known for her valuable work in connection with humanitarian and philanthropic organisations in Dunedin over a long period. For some 20 years Mrs Baker was actively engaged in the work of the St. John Ambulance Association, being founder and chairwoman of the St. John Ladies’ Guild, which provided clothing for the needy during the depression years, and also for those victims of the Napier earthquake who came to Dunedin in 1931. Later she became a vice-president and member of the executive of the association. The Grand Prior of the Order (the Duke of Connaught), through Colonel J. L. Sleeman, who visited Dunedin a year or so ago, conferred on Mrs Baker the title of Serving Sister of the Order of St. John in recognition of her services on behalf of the organisation. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, of which she was president for a number of years, provided Mrs Baker with another field for the exercise of her organising and executive qualificar tions, which she was always eager to use for the benefit of charitable work in the city. MR T. PEMBERTON

The death occurred in London on January 21 of Mr Thomas Pemberton, who was well known in Dunedin as an elocutionist and also in dramatic circles. Mr Pemberton was educated at Christ’s College and entered the office of the Qtago Daily Times some years prior to the war, being employed first in the readers’ room and" later as a member of the sub-editorial staff, a position which he retained until the early years of the war, when he sailed for England. On his arrival there he enlisted for service in France, where he gained a commission. At the close of the war Mr Pemberton returned to the journalistic profession, being appointed to a position in the London office which supplies British news to a number of leading Dominion newspapers. Some years ago he accompanied a touring party to the Gallipoli Peninsula, and on returning published a book relating outstanding incidents of the tour. His wife was formerly Miss Pope, a daughter of Mr Langley Pope, at one time headmaster of the St. Clair School. MR F. HARPER Mr F. Harper, whose death 1 occurred in Christchurch last week at the age of 72, was one of the most prominent of Otago’s early cricketers, and made a notable contribution to the advancement of the game in the province by his action in engaging as coach J. C. Lawton, the Warwickshire professional. Mr Harper, who was a member of the Carisbrook Club, represented Otago almost qontinuously from 1887 to 1895. On his first appearance for the province against Canterbury at Christchurch he was described as “ the prettiest bat ever sent from Otago.” He was not only a successful and stylish batsman, but also a brilliant fieldsman, and as captain of the Otago eleven on a number of occasions he distinguished himself as an able and enthusiastic leader. It was while he was on a visit to England, from which he had emigrated earlier, that he engaged Lawton as coach to the Carisbrook Club, paying half his salary for the season. This action was of great assistance to Otago cricket, and Lawton created such a favourable impression on his appearance in 1890 that the Otago Cricket Association engaged him for a number of seasons. Mr Harper was a partner in the firm of Messrs M'Kerrow, Lees and Co., soft goods merchants, until it was dissolved, and he subsequently retired. For a number of years he had resided in Timaru. His wife, who is a daughter of Mr Henry Walcott, of Dunedin, survives him. MR G. J. COHEN SYDNEY, Jan. 22. The death is announced, after a protracted illness, of Mr George Judah Cohen, aged 94 years. Mr Cohen was chairman of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney until 1933, and was the doyen of Australian finance. MR CHARLES BRYANT SYDNEY, Jan. 23. (Received Jan. 24, at 5.5 p.m.) The death has occurred of Mr Charles Bryant, aged 53, a noted Australian artist, who was widely recognised as the leading marine painter of the Commonwealth.