ABOUT PEOPLE

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 4

ABOUT PEOPLE

The death is reported from Dunedin of Mr George Lawrence, aged 83, a well-known builder and contractor and an ex-Mayor of Dunedin.

Mr D. U. Strang, who has been staying with his parents, Mr and Mrs J. F. Strang, Yarrow street, left on his return to Dunedin by yesterday afternoon’s express. Mr D. E. S. Mason, engineer to the Bluff Harbour Board, who has spent the last 15 months in England in connection with the construction of the board’s new tug Awarua, arrived in Invercargill by yesterday afternoon’s express and proceeded to Bluff. Mr D. J. Wesney, president of the Southland Motor Association, accompanied by Messrs J. R. Haigh and J. S. Dick (secretary) left by yesterday afternoon’s express for Dunedin on their way to Christchurch, where the party will attend a conference of the South Island Motor Union.

At the annual meeting of the Invercargill Lawn Tennis Club last evening a presentation was made to Miss M. Logan, who after many years of membership, has resigned owing to her approaching marriage. The president of the club (Dr. J. G. Macdonald), who made the presentation, referred to her popularity and to her long record of service in the senior team.

The Dominion newspaper celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary yesterday when the Editor-in-Chief, Mr C. W. Earle, was entertained at dinner at which he stated that he had advised the directors of his intention to relinquish part of his duties and would hand over the editorship of the paper to other hands within the next few months, confining his future activities to the duties of managing editor, states a Wellington Press telegram.

The death has occurred in Auckland of Mr William John Rout, formerly of Invercargill, in his 90th year. Mr Rout was born in London, and when an infant was taken by his parents to Tasmania. In 1863 he came to Invercargill, and was in business here as an ironmonger. He later returned to Tasmania, but in 1907 went to Auckland, where, for some years, he carried on business as an accountant. For the past 11 years he had lived in retirement at Onehunga. He was an energetic worker in the cause of prohibition, and took an interest in the work of the China Inland Mission, and in missions in India and the Belgian Congo. Mr Rout was predeceased by his wife and two daughters, and leaves one daughter, Mrs E. A. Hornibrook, of London, better known as Miss Ettie Rout.

There passed away at Green Island on Thursday Mrs Agnes Russell Orr in her 86th year. Mrs Orr was the widow of Mr Peter Orr,' of Oamaru. She was born at Airdrie, Scotland, in 1847, and, coming to New Zealand by the City of Dunedin, she arrived at Port Chalmers in 1864. Her younger days were spent in Otago and she was married by Dr. Stuart in 1868. She subsequently lived in Oamaru and Wellington, going to Dunedin 23 years ago to reside at Green Island with her daughter, Mrs Archibald Smellie. By a wide circle of friends throughout New Zealand she was held in high esteem and was noted far and wide for her kindness of heart and her deeply sympathetic nature. Mrs Archibald Smellie (Green Island), Mrs Burkhart (Kaimata), Mrs Walter Linton (Sydney). Mr John Orr (Gore) and Mr James Orr (Green Island) are the surviving members of the family.

The death has occurred of Mr William Edgar Evans, of Waimate, at the age of 63. Mr Evans was born in Dunedin, and went to Waimate with his parents when he was about four years of age. His father started in the tailoring business in 1873. As a young man he made a trip to England, where he studied the tailoring trade. He succeeded his father in the business and carried it on to the time of his death. Becoming a councillor in 1910, Mr Evans served under Messrs Norton Francis, John Black, and George Dash until 1919, when he himself became Mayor. During the four years of his term of office he was instrumental in having many improvements to the town carried out. Since his retirement from office early in 1925, Mr Evans took no active part in local politics, but he maintained his keen interest .in the town. He was associated with the Waimate Caledonian Society, the Silver Band, the Orchestral Society, the Savage Club, and the Masonic Lodge, and he was a member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association and the Racing Club. He was a foundation member of the Savage Club in 1923, was a member of the council from that time until 1931, and was a past Great Chief. He took a great interest in orchestral work, and was a member of the Orchestral Society for many years. He took a prominent part in the old amateur dramatic society in Waimate. His musical talent was also of assistance to the Waimate Brass Band, in which for a long period he was a soprano cometist. Latterly he had been one 'of the trustees of the band, now the Waimate Silver Band. Mr Evans is survived by his widow and three children; Mrs Smith, Mrs P. J. Creba, and Mr H. E. Evans, all of Waimate.