OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 7

OBITUARY

Mrs E. Hornibrook SOCIAL WORKER DURING GREAT WAR (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rarotonga, September 17. The death occurred to-day of Mrs E. Hornibrook, aged 59, at Rarotonga. Mrs Hornibrook, who was better known as Miss Ettie Rout, was formerly of Christchurch. Miss Ettie A. Rout was first known in Christchurch as an occasional journalist and reporter of conferences, more especially those of Labour bodies. After her marriage to Mr Hornibrook, who had been a teacher of physical culture in Christchurch, her life was lived in London. During the war she was active in a crusade to safeguard the health of troops, the methods of which were not approved in all quarters, but courage was always a chief characteristic of Miss Rout, her other outstanding quality being her industry. Several books were written by her on subjects of diet, and one dealing with the migration and various customs of the Maoris, in which an unorthodox view of the direction of their migration was put forward. CAPTAIN JOHN FRASER. The death of Captain John Fraser in Dunedin recently severed a link with old sailing days; he was one of the most popular seafaring men who have ever resided there (says The Evening Star). Following the sea for almost 70 years, Captain Fraser gained distinction during the wreck of the Wairarapa, while he was well-known in Dunedin as captain of one of the ferry vessels that once operated between Dunedin and the Lower Harbour. The son of Kenneth Fraser, of Stornaway, Scotland, John Fraser left home at the age of 18, and, until the time of his death at the age of 88, followed the sea, mostly around the New Zealand coast. He could recall the time when, as an officer, he brought a sailing ship up to the _ wharf just behind the new Post Office. As a fireman on the Wairarapa, when the vessel was wrecked oft the Great Barrier reef in October 1894, with the second officer, he attempted to bring a line from the ship to the shore, but was unsuccessful in the attempt. Survivors’ accounts of the attempt reflected great credit on the two men, who narrowly escaped with their lives. At a meeting held in Auckland later, Captain Fraser and the second officer of the vessel were each presented with a certificate commemorating the deed and a medal. A total of 135 persons lost their lives in the wreck. At that time Captain Fraser held a master mariner’s certificate, and, following a period when he took small cargo vessels down the coast, he entered the ferry service operating between Dunedin and the Lower Harbour. His first command in this service was the Moerangi, and then the Waikana. The first indication of the illness that resulted in his death occurred about eight years ago, when he was bringing the Waikana up to Dunedin. Captain Fraser was at the wheel when he had a stroke, and collapsed on the bridge. Since his retirement he had been living at Portobello, but his death occurred at his son’s house in Dunedin. Captain Fraser is survived by his son and daughter (Mrs L. B. Smith, of Portobello), and Mr W. Fraser (of Caversham). MR FRANK COLLIER. Mr Frank Collier, whose death occurred yesterday morning at Skippers, was until recently a well-known resident of Invercargill and then of Mataura. For many years he was a commercial traveller in Otago and Southland. He was manager of the Invercargill branch of W. A. Scott and Sons, and later purchased a cycle business at Mataura.