OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16209, 6 December 1926, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR. WILLIAM HENRY COOPER Mr. William Henry Cooper, a prominent figure in the commercial circles of the East Coast district, and a man held in high esteem in many business houses, died at the Cook Hospital yesterday, at the age of 68 years. The deceased was one of the oldest travellers on the Coast, and between Dannevirke and Wairoa he handled the bulk of the mercantile business for many years. His genial manner and kindly nature won for him a host of friends, by whom the news of his demise will be received with deep regret. ■ The late Mr, Cooper was born at Henley-on-Thames, England, and at the early age of three years came out to New Zealand with his parents, who first settled in Auckland, whence they later went to Mongonui. Subsequently the family took up residence in Napier in the early '7o's, and, as a young man, Mr. Cooper took up employment with Messrs. Neale and Close, of that town. Afterwards he served) with other Hawke's Bay commercial houses, and was associated with Kinross and Co., of Port Ahuriri, and Robjohns and Hindmarsh, of Napier, When the wellknown firm of Vigor Brown, Ltd., was opened in Napier, Mr. Cooper was appointed manager, and it was largely due to his energy and administration that the company gained such a firm hold on the Coast districts. Subsequently he became agent for Johnstone, and Co.. Wellington, and later still held a responsible position with. the Equitable Life Assurance Co., in Dunedin. About .five years ago the deceased came to Oisborne, and although for a time .he acted as traveller for Messrs. Thos. Corson and' Son, he lived mostlv a retired life, residing with his dauchter, Mrs. Chas. Adair.

Mr. Cooper was an early volunteer in the Great War, and although too old for active service, be. proved his worth in. charge of the stores department at Trentham. .Seven years ago Mr. Cooper was„predeceased bv his wife, fie is survived bv two daughters and two sons, Mrs Chas. Adair, of Gisbornr, Mr.«. F. Bridges, Napier, Mr. W. K. Cooper, Napier, and Mr. 0. Cooper, Waipawa-