OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 20772, 13 May 1929, Page 14

OBITUARY

OLD IDENTITY PASSES.

MR EDWARD HENRY WHITMORE.

Another link with the early days of the province was severed when Mr. Edward Henry Whitmore passed away at hie residence, 352 Tay Street, yesterday at the ripe age of 87 years. Mr. Whitmore was very well-known in Invercargill as a prominent member of the Masonic and Oddfellows lodges and as the founder of the Phoenix Printing Company. He was a native of Islington, England, and married Mise Francis Letitia Finch, also of Islington. His wife predeceased him. He came to New Zealand about 53 years ago in the Suret and resided for a time at Caversham. At that time he travelled for a firm of booksellers in Dunedin, and it was as a bAoksellcr that he first came to Invercargill. He was a partner of Mr. Robert Erskine for a number of years, and then founded the Phoenix Printing Company. He introduced cardboard boxmaking to Invercargill as a part of his business. He was always actively engaged in lodge affairs, and was instrumental in opening a number of lodges throughout the province. . He always enjoyed good health and was wonderfully active, both mentally and physically, for his years. He was very popular in the town and had a wide circle, of friends, who will regret his demise. He leaves a family of three, two sons and a daughter. One son, Mr. John R. Whitmore, worked with him in his business and the other, Mr. E. 11. Whitmore, recently retired from the position of postmaster at Tokomaru Bay. The third member of the family, Miss Florence Whitmore, lived with her father.