OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR W. H. FRITH (United Press Association) OAMARU, December 7. The death occurred this morning of Mr William Henry Frith, aged 83. He was born at Batley (Yorkshire), and was educated at the Little Falls Academy in the United States. He came to New Zealand in 1875 by the ship Invercargill and arrived in Oamaru in 1876. Mr Frith was a member of the Oamaru Borough Council for over 30 years and was Mayor for four years during the war. He also served as a member of the Harbour Board, the Waitaki High School Board and the Waitaki Power Board and was president of the North Otago Justices of the Peace Association. He was district coroner until recently. Twice he represented the South Island on the Council of the Protestant Alliance Society. On one occasion he contested the Oamaru seat in the House of Representatives against the Hon. T. W. Hislop, but was defeated.

MR H. C. MADSEN

(United Press Association)

BLENHEIM, December 7. After completing a bowling match in which he had drawn the winning shot, Mr Hans Christian Madsen, aged 60, part proprietor of The Marlborough Express, Picton, died suddenly on the Picton bowling green last evening. He was born in the Wairarapa district and after journalistic experience in several North Island centres acquired an interest in the Picton bi-weekly in 1904. He was prominently associated with various sports and for many years was secretary of the Marlborough Regatta Committee. THE BISHOP OF WAIAPU (United Press Association) NAPIER, December 7. . The death is announced of the Rt. Rev. H. W. Williams, Bishop of Waiapu, at the age of 77 years. Although confined to bed in Bishopscourt, Bishop Williams presided at a meeting of the Diocesan Board of Nomination, the members being seated about the bed. While he was reading the minutes the bishop suddenly announced that he was unable to go on, collapsed and died shortly aftetwards. Heart trouble terminated abruptly a visit paid by the bishop to the northern portion of his diocese last week. He returned to Napier and had been confined to bed since.

Bishop Williams was bom at Wae-renga-a-hika, Poverty Bay, in 1860, and was a son of Bishop W. L. Williams. He was educated at Christ’s College, Christchurch, and at Cambridge University, where he took his M.A. degree. He was ordained priest in 1887, was vice-principal of the Native Theological College, Gisborne, from 1888 to 1894 and principal from 1895 to 1902. From 1903 to 1929 he was superintendent of Maori Missions and was created Archdeacon of Waiapu in 1907. He was consecrated Bishop of Waiapu in 1929. He was a noted Maori scholar and in 1917 published a Maori dictionary.