DEATH OF MR. S. HOOPER

Taranaki Daily News, 7 July 1930, Page 9

DEATH OF MR. S. HOOPER

GENEROUS GIVER TO CHURCH. A <rood friend of the Roman Catholic Church, Mr. Stephen Hooper, aged about 90 years, died at ais Robe Street residence, New Plymouth, yesterday at 3.45 p.m. Born in Bridport, Dorsetshire, England, Mr. Hooper arrived in New Zealand by the sailing ship Royal Stewart in 1861, landing at Port Lyttelton. After .spending ton years in Canterbury he moved', to Wanganui, where he carried on business for some time as a hairdresser and tobacconist. He later became the licensee of several Wanganui hotels and in succession took over tie Clarendon (Waverley), Commercial (Hawera) and Central (Eltham) hotels, the Mt. Egmont Hotel at Midhirst, and then the Red House at New Plymouth. He retired several years ago, living in New Plymouth since his retirement. He took a keen interest in sport and was a popular member, of the New Plymouth Bowling Club. Mr. Hooper was always very generous to the Roman Catholic Church, lending assistance on every possible occasion. Among the larger donations that stand to his credit are the £lOOO towards the cost of the school on the South Road, New Plymouth, and £lOOO for the education of a student from New Plymouth for the priesthood. He also gave freely for the building of a new convent at Fitzroy for the Sisters of the Mission. Twice married, Mr. Hooper had seven children, four of whom predeceased him. He is survived by Mrs. Hooper, a daughter, Sister Mary St. Rose of the Hamilton Convent, and two sons, Messrs, Harry Hooper (Hamilton) and Percy Hooper (Wellington),