OBITUARY

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1237, 3 July 1947, Page 7

OBITUARY

MR. C. M. GUMMER Pioneer Businessman Passes The death of Mr. Charles Moginie Gummer, one of the pioneer* businessman of Waikato, occurred at his residence, Studholme Street, early Saturday morning, afte’r a fairly long, illness. Mr. Gummer retired from adtive participation in the business of iGununts's, Ltd., some 18 months ago, but he had been ailing for some time before that. During his 40 years’ residence in Waikato Mr. Gummer’s activities covered a very wide field. He did not spare himself in anything fee mankind or in the welfare of tho district. His untiring energy in this respect was whalt affected his health. In everything he undertook, it may ba said that he was a model of business exactitude. Mr. Gummer was born in Auckland on August 14, ISTS, and was educated at Mt. Eden public school and Auckland Grammar School. On leaving school he spent five years in a wholesale soft goods warehouse, and five years, in the service of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, both in the Auckland and Wellington branches. He resigned to start in business in Auckland as an importer of sports goods, cycles, electrical and photographic lines. After another five years this business was disposed of in order to take over, together with • his brother, Alf, the general store of H. and J. Clifford, at Morrinsville, in 1907. In 1912 Mr. Alf Gummer, for health reasons, retired to take up farming, and sections of the business were sold, the bakery being that now carried on by Mr. W. Morrice, the grocery by Mr. Roy Davidson, while the ironmongery and timber sections were acquired by Messrs. Watts and- Brayshaw, Ltd. Mr. C. M. Gummer retained the drapery and clothing sections, which were considerably extended, and are still carried on as Gummer’s, Ltd. Morrinsville in 1907 There was very little in the way of a town in 1907, but Morrinsville was in that year just starting to move ahead, .although for some years after vehicles ware occasionally bogged in the main street. From the first Mr. Gummer began to take an interest in thci town, and one of his first public offices was as a member of the school committee. Shortly after he became a vestryman in St, Matthew's Church, and for a long period of years was either a vestryman or a church warden. He also, held the position of ion. lay reader for 25 years. In 1907 Morrinisville was part of the Piako county but in that year the “Morrinsville Improvement Committee’’ was formed, of which Mr. Gummer was a member. This committee entered into negotiations with the Piako County Council, and the 'necessary steps were taken to form Morrinsville into a town district. An election was held on February 12, 1903, and Mr. Gummer was elected one of the first members ox tho Morrinsville Town Board. In the same year he was one of the foundation members of the Morrinsville branch of the M.U. Oddfellows. Justice of the Peace In October, 1911, Mr. Gummer was the prime mover in starting the Morrinsville Chamber of Commerce. Three years later he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. In 1925-26 Mr. Gummer was Morrinsville’s third mayor, but declined for business reasons to accept nomination for a further term. He was a life member of the Morrinsville Hoiifcicultural Society and the Automobile Association (Auckland). Mr. Gummer was an original shareholder and director of the Cargill Publishing Co., Ltd., and was for about 16 years chairman of directors. He refused to accept renomination when his health broke down about three years ago. At one time he was a member of the bowling and golf clubs but for some years had not taken an active pa-t in these sports. His chief hei'ebies were; his business and his garden. He was well known in Masonic circles, being a Past Master of the Piako Lodge, and a Past Principal both of the Waikato and Piako Royal Arch Chapters.

He was also an officer of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter. The funeral took place at Morrinsville cemetery yesterday morning. The first service was held at the Masonic Temiple, where a number of lodges of Waikato and Auckland were represented. A service

was then held at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, after which a long entourage followed to the graveside. There the Church of England burial service was conducted by Rev. G. W. G. Griffien, and the Masonic service by Worshipi’ ut Master F. H. Stret'ton. ME. ALBERT HILL Planned Matamata Track (By A. G. Y.ardley) The death occurred in Auckland last week of Me. Albert Hill, one of the best known authorities on racecourses in Nerw Zealand. He was for 34 years manager of the Ellerslie racecourse. lit is' now over 25 years' since the Matamata Racing Club, then' without a totalisatcr permit, requested Mr. Hill to visit Matamata to plan a track. The club had purchased part of what is new the racecourse from Mr. E. C. Banks, the area being somewhe-e about 90 acres elon gated east and west. When Mr. Hill saw the property he flatly refused to have anything to do with planning a track, as he consider; 1 the course would run the wrong way, and be too “turning.” He suggested that a portion of the properties on either side would have to be obtained before he would touch, the project.

The executive, with the foresight always associated with it, deputed ’the late Mr. J. Price to see if additional acreage could be obtained. He was refused on the oast, but ultimately prevailed upon the Green family to part with approximately 17 acres. The figure was high, but it must bci said that the sale was a generous one by the Green family as it took an ugly mouthful out of their uniform property. On his second visit Mr. Hill indicated an approximate mile track, which he stated would be unsurpassed in the world. It. would be an ideal track.

The ultimate survey and plans were made by the late Mr. “Jock” McKay, surveyor, c-f Morrinsville. It is these that are in the Matamata Racing Club’s office, and although they may be modified they provide the basic plan of what, when restrictions are lifted, should bo an unbeatable racing venue.

Incidentally, 'soon after the purchase cf the track, and another nontote meeting had been held, a certain banking institution refused the club any more accommodation, but with undaunted spirit residents of the whole district responded well to a stock rive, and later to an appeal for life members at £lO a time. ■ 'After Mr. Hill had indicated his course, tha actual track for the toitalisator meeting was laid out by the late Mr. J. Price. Thereby hangs a story. The late Mr. W. Gale, one of the ear-lic-ist business men of Matamata, was timekeeper, and for the big race of the day, the Matamata Cup, he returned the time of 2.4 1-5, this beating Goldsize’s Australasian record at that time. When questioned as to whether he had not made a mistake of perhaps 10 seconds, Mr. Gale wag irate and told the .press that that was the time. It may have, led ,to a lot of trouble if the actual fact had been recorded, but it was that in his measurement Mr. Price had lost a furlong, so that the distance run, instead of being 11 miles, was nine furlongs.