OBITUARY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13795, 16 June 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

OBITUARY.

SUDDEN DEATH- AT PUKAMAHOI.

(Pram "Tho Colonist," June 1.)

Takaka, Juno 1

A very sudden and tragic death occurred at Puraruahoi early this jtnorning. Mr Rowden Soper went out to feed ducks at the creek alongside his home. As he did not return, search was'made, and his body ivas discovered in the creek.. It is surmised that the deceased had a stroke, and, falling into the creek, was drowned. Mr Soper, although well on in years, was a hale and hearty man. He had a slight stroke a few years ago, but at the time of his death fie was apparently in good health. He belonged to an old Marlborough family, but had been at Puraniahoi for over twenty years. He was very well knowi* and highly respected, and was a successful farmer. He leaves I a widow and a family of five sons and. four daughters, all grown up. One oi: the sons is in Egypt wilh the main body of the New Zealand Mounted Infantry. ! News of Mr Soper's death caused a shock throughout the entire valley, the deceased and his family being universally known and respected. The famuy have the deepest sympathy on all Mr Soper recently sold his fine property to a land syndicate, and intended retiring from active farm life very shortly. Dr. Howard, medical officer at ilio Horn© for Defectives, Richmond, passed away on Thursday evening. _ Tho ' deceased took charge of tho institution 1 about twelve months ftg«, and althougii 1 he had been in failing health for some time past, his end came somewhat suddenly. Dr. Howard was born af- Buckenfield, Cheshire, and before coa.ine; to ' Nelson practised his profession in Canterbury and Dunedin, where he was for six years. He leaves a widow ana ( one son. The death occurred at St. Mary's Convent on Tuesday morning of Miss Margaret Mary liickey, only daughter .of Constable and Mrs Hickey. of , Oollingwootl, after a brief illness, from acute- pneumonia. Deceased, who was being educated at the convent, was a clever musician, and presided at the organ at St. Mary's Church on Sunday morning. Very general sympathy will be. felt .with deceased's parents m the untimely death of their daughter. The late Mr Edward Fry. whoso death occurred zi Riwaka on June 4th, was horn on February 2nd, 1843. He was a son of the late Mr Henry Fry, Of Wiltshire England, one .of . tho mVi'-C-r- settlor of tho Nelson province. The t-to Mr EiUr&r* Ifry **s the -oS"d white child bcrr. iv t-W Riwaka district. In 1870.he married the only l-io-Hor of the late Mr Charles Pat* Tcrson Patlia, who survives )mn to<^th'!r with a family of n\e sons and "%r dau-hters. Tho sons cro: Messrs C. P. Fry"(Riv.-aka) Cor.stablo M Fiv fs&nd), '-■ rrv Edtrard I-. try (I?,wahaV &*•«* Alfred.E. Fr,- (.Aioluc!:^..* 1-* ku4S-s ai-c* Mrs W. Hocking X>) Mrs . X;- f Humphrey Ha"tinßs\ i«rs Prod Clark (Ri^ka), and Mrs f! Stuppl™ M™° *all\K£! are twenty-five graiH!cHiMren.--.\lolue-ka "Star " * The late Mrs Peter Askew, of Riwaka, whose death occurred last week, was bora in.Leeds, 1 f¥™e^™ i™£ She leaves a family oi e:ght daughters and two sons, namely MesdamoW. McNanb. T. Fi-anklin, GH. cues, Morgan (Auckland , N. Tibbie W. v. Robertson 'Nelson), and Miss J. As kc v aiiwaVa). and Messrs T. and , D^ AsS, of Auckland, and Riwaka rospectivoly.