OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 20417, 21 February 1928, Page 8

OBITUARY

A SUDDEN PASSING PROMINENT DUNEDIN CITIZEN DEATH OF MR CHARLES SPEIGHT A prominent Dunedin citizen and business man in the person of Mr. Charles Speight, C.8.E., died suddenly at his residence, York Place, on Sunday afternoon, reports the Otago Daily limes. Mr. Speight, who was 63 years of age, was apparently enjoying his usual good health up to Sunday morning, and his passing canie as a great shock to his family and friends. Mr. Speight, Who was one of the bestknown and most popular figures in local business and club circles, was born in Dunedin in 1865, and remained in the city of his birth throughout his life. His parents, Mr and Mrs James bpeight, arrived in New Zealand in 1861, and settled in this city. In 1876 Mr. James Speight founded the important brewing business with which his son, after being educated at the Normal School (now known as the Moray Place School), became associated in 1881. Prior to the brewery merger four years ago Mr. Speight was managing director of the firm of James Speight and Co., and from that time was manager of the Dunedin branch of New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., and a member of the board of directors of that concern. His first important public service was performed during the Boer War, when he became a member of the Organising Committee that was responsible for raising and equipping the Fourth and Fifth Contingents, and he was prominently associated with the work of promoting the welfare of the men on their return. During the last war Mr. Speight was quickly provided with a useful sphere of activity in a similar capacity, and he assisted in organising the carnivals and other efforts planned for the welfare of the men. He was a member of the Otago Patriotic Association, which controls the expenditure of the funds raised for this purpose, and was deputy chairman of the Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee. With the organisation and opening of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition of 1925-26 Mr. Speight came prominently under public notice in most recent times. He was associated with the enterprise from its inception, being a member of the Advisory Committee which was set up at a meeting of citizens on February 15, 1923, convened by the Mayor (Mr. J. S. Douglas) for the purpose of discussing the proposal to hold an exhibition. On October 1, 1923, when the exhibition directorate was elected by a meeting of shareholders, his name ajr•peared first in the list of directors appointed, and he later became vice-chairman of the board and chairman of the Finance Committee. For his work as vice-chairman of the Exhibition Company, Mr. Speight received the distinction of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s Birthday honours list last year. In his younger days Mr. Speight was actively connected with cycling and volunteering. He was a member of the Dunedin Cycling Club, the Dunedin Rifle Club and the “B” Battery. He was also a keen yachtsman, and throughout his life remained closely associated with the aquatic sport, and actively concerned in its in. terests. He was appointed a lieutenant in the Naval Reserve as a result of his associations in yachting and allied circles, and he took a special interest in the Sanders Cup contest, the 14-footer Winifred, an Otago competitor for the trophy, being built to his order and under his careful supervision in regard to design and equipment. The boat was named after his only daughter. He was a past president of the Caledonian Society of which he was treasurer at the time of his death, and a past president of the Otago Bowling Club. His interest extended to all manly sports, and he might regularly be seen among the spectators at all important cricket and Rugby football matches in Dunedin, while latterly he derived much enjoyment from a friendly game of golf on Saturday afternoons. He was a popular and prominent member of the Otago Club, and a member also of both the Fernhill and the Commercial Travellers’ Clubs. Mr. Speight leaves his wife and a family of four sons and a daughter to mourn their loss. Dr. Norman Speight, his eldest son is in practice in Dunedin; Mr. Allan Speight, his second son, manages the Redcliff run, near Lake Manapouri (Southland) ; Mr. Hugh Speight is in business in his father’s firm; and the youngest son, Mr. Colin Speight is on the Redcliff run. His daughter, Miss Winifred Speight, resides at home. Four members of the family to which he belonged are resident in New Zealand. His brother. Mr. Walter Speight lives in Dunedin, and his sisters are Mrs T. D. Pearce, of Invercargill, Mrs G. Frier, of Wellington; and Mrs W. Livingston, of Wellington. The only other member of the family was Mrs Frank Holmes, of Wellington, who died some 12 months ago.