OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18788, 18 June 1929, Page 16

OBITUARY.

GEORGE R. HOLTON. By the death of Mr George R Holton, at Christchurch, on Thursday, Amberley lost one who had done good service to the community in many public capacities. Mr Holton was born in Kaiapoi in the year 1858, but in the early sixties his parents removed to Kangiora, where he received his education at Mr C. Merton’s school, and served his apprenticeship to the bootmaking trade. At the age of nineteen he took up his residence at Am berley, and there established a business which he carried on until his retirement a few years ago. He had a long connection- with the Amberley Town Board, being chairman for sixteen ye«*rs. He also did good service on the School Committee, and was chairman cf the Waihi-Takaroa Domain Board, which controls a sea beach reserve, from its formation until his health failed about two years ago. He had a long and honourable connection with the Manchester Unity Oddfellows’ Society, having joined the Loyal Ambcriey Lodge in 1880. He served in all the offices and was for . twenty-six years permanent secretary of the lodge. In 1910 he was elected Deputy Grand Master of the Ashley district, and in the following year he filled the office of Grand Master most efficiently. He was a member of Merton’s School Old Boys’ Association. He leaves, a widow, one son iMr A. J. Holton, Ambejley) and daughter (Mrs C. M. Hallinan, Amberley). One son was killed in the war, and another died in the influenza epidemic The funeral, which took place on Saturday afternoon, was attended by a large number of friends. The Oddfellow's’ Society was well represented, and four of the brethren acted as pallbearers. The remains were interred in the Balcairn Cemetery, the Rev J R. Nelson (Methodist) and Brother the Rev H. J. W. Knights (Church of England) taking part in the burial service, which was followed by the Oddfellows' funeral ritual, read by Brother C. I. Jennings, D.S. . Besides family wreaths, floral tributes of sympathy were sent by the Loyal Amberley Lodge, M.U., Amberley Meth odist Church, the Waihi-Takaroa Do main Board, North Canterbury Cale donian Society, Loyal Waikari Lodge M.U., V. and H. Clark, Mr and Mrs G. Bevington, Mrs A. Watson and family, the Sloper family, Mr and Mrs J. E. Chamberlain and family, Mrs F. Stanton and family, the Obery family, Mr M’Donald and Mona, Mr and Mrs Bar ker and Ethel, Mrs F. Courage, Mrs James F. Taylor and Jimmy, Mr and Mrs W. F. Saunders, Mr and Mrs Hindle. Miss J. M'Naught, Mr and Mrs Holland and Mr Traill, Mr and Mrs Shepherd and family, Mrs Burton and family', and Mr and Mrs C. Shepherd.