OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24750, 29 October 1941, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR W, A. SCOTT Mr Walter A. Scott, who died in Dunedin yesterday morning, was born in Ohio, United States, in 1867. He was educated at Westtown Collage, and served an apprenticeship to the engineering trade at Chester in the United States. He came to New Zealand 52 years ago with his wife and his eldest son, Arthur, and engaged in business in Christchurch as a member of the firm of Waller, Scott, and Meyer, cycle manufacturers, until 1895, when he came to Dunedin and founded the cycle, motor cycle, and engineering works which he and his sons had carried on ever since.

Mr Scott gave outstanding public service to the city of Dunedin. He was a member of tlie Dunedin City Council from 1911 to 1938, with the exception of a short period before being returned at a by-election after unsuccessfully contesting the mayoral election against

the late Mr R, S. Black in 1931. During his .ong service he was chairman of a number of the committees, including the Tramways, Gas, and General Committees. He was for some years on the Dunedin Drainage Board, the representative of the City Council on the Tramways Appeal Board and on the Otago Museum Board of Managers, and treasurer of the Ocean Beach Domain Board. He served for a long period on the Dunedin (now the Metro-, politan) Fire Board, and he was for two years on the Technical School Board of Governors. Mr Scott was a keen bowler. He joined the Duendin Club in 1898, and until the time of his deith he took a keen interest in the welfare of the club, of which he was an ex-president, and, for many years, a member of the executive. Three years ago he was elected a life member of the club. On one occasion he won the Club Championship Singles. His influence in the bowling world extended far beyond the Dunedin green. Over a long period he acted as official bowl-tester in Otago, while bowlers throughout the Dominion owe a debt of gratitude to him for his work, in conjunction with Mr J. J. Marlow, in bringing about the establishment of the green test for used bowls. Gardening, however, was probably ,his greatest hobby, and he made a close study of the growing.of vegetables. He took an active part in Masonic matters, being a foundation member of Haeremai Lodge. Mr Scott was also a Justice of the Peace, and was a- past president of the Otago Justices of the Peace Association.

Mr Scott is survived by his wife, four sons, and a daughter. The sons are Messrs A. E., T. 1., and R. J. Scott, who have besn conducting the business of Messrs W. A. Scott and Sons for many years, and Lieutenant W. A. Scott, a civil engineer, who is at present serving in the Middle East. The daughter is Mrs J. McCrae, jun„ of Dunedin. He will be held in affectionate remembrance by a very large circle of friends.

Reference to the death of Mr Scott was made at a meeting of. the City Council last night by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who said that Mr Scott had been a member of the Council for 26 years. A motion sympathy with the relatives was carried.

The St. Hilda Borough Council at its meeting last night passed a motion of sympathy with the relatives of Mr Scott. The Mayor. Mr N. D. Andbrson, said that Mr Scott had always shown a keen interest in civic affairs, both in the city and the suburbs. MR ROBERT CRAIG Mr Robert Craig (“ Fair Bob ” Craig), an old Otago coach driver, died in Dunedin on Friday at the age of 80 years. When he took the driver’s seat on Cobb and Co.’s coaches in Central Otago, long stretches of the so-called roads were axle deep in mud in winter, and in summer the source of stifling clouds of dust. Like most of his fellow drivers on the goldfields he was of a kindly generous nature, and many a foot-weary swagger had, reason to thank “Bob” Craig for a lift along the dusty road. When sometimes he would learn that the swagger was “ down on his luck." hungry, and without a “ tanner ” Mr Craig, when they reached the end of the stage, would toss him a ‘florin with which to buy himself a meal. Mr Craig was born in Victoria in 1861 and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1862. He was the eldest

of two sons of Mr and Mrs David Craig, of Riccarton, Argyllshire, Scotland. His' boyhood was spent on a farm at Round Hill, and his school days at Milton, While still in his teens he entered- the employ of Cobb and Co., coach proprietors, as a groom, first at Lawrence, then at Cromwell, and lastly, at Island .Block. from where he was promoted to the position of driver on the stage from Cromwell to Queenstown. He succeeded Mr James Mclntosh as driver on the Lawrence-Rox-burgh stage when the latter was killed near Rae’s Junction in 1892 through the coach' capsizing at a bend on McCunn s Hill. This-position he retained until the coaches were replaced by motor vehicles, when he severed his connection with the firm and entered into business in Southland. For a number of years he had lived in retirement In Dunedin. ■ ’ , While stationed at Island Block, Mr Craig married a daughter of the late Mr John McDonald, of Cromwell, and his wife predeceased him"a year ago Their family numbered 10—six sons and four daughters, Of the sons, two were killed in the Great War, and one died at Lawrence. The surviving sons are Mr Hugh Craig, of Auckland, Mr Herbert Craig, of Christchurch, and Mr Murray Craig, of Tapanui. The daughters are Mrs E. Henderson, of Mataura, Mrs G. Ogilvie, Mrs McHobie, and Mrs C. Hayes, of Dunedin. A younger brother is Mr John Craig, ,of Anderson’s Bay. . y MR J. A. ROCHE Mr James A. Roche, who died in Dunedin yesterday, was well known in business circles in the city and also in mining' circles in Central Otago. He was born at Blue Spur, and was educated at the Blue Spur School.

After leaving school he started in the butchery trade in Laurence and was engaged in that business* for a number of years. He then came to live in Dunedin, and in 1910 became associated with Mr W F. Fort in founding the well-known firm of Messrs Fort, Roche and Co. In 1925, owing to illhealth," Mr Roche retired'from the firm and then became interested in mining. He was well known for his connection with this industry in Central Otago, particularly in the Cromwell and Naseby districts. He had been a member of the St. Kilda Bowling Club for the past eight years and was a member of the Dunedin Jockey Club and the Forbury Park Trotting Club. His services to the St. Kilda Bowling Club, of which he was a committeeman, were invaluable, especially on the social ’side, and his kindly, obliging nature made him extremely popular with his fellow-members. He is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. „ ! MR JAMES MITCHELL (Bee. 0.30 a.ro.) SYDNEY, Oct. 28. The death has occurred of a former New South Wales Chief Commissioner of Police, Mr James Mitchell, aged t 6. At his special request prior to his death the funeral will be extremely quiet. '