FORMER MAYOR DIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20278, 12 April 1934, Page 10

FORMER MAYOR DIES.

Mr H. J. Beswick’s Career in Business and Sport.

The death of Mr Harry Joseph Beswick, who for very many years was prominent in Christchurch as a barrister and solicitor, and a former Mayor, is reported from London, where he had lived since retiring from practice in 1929.

Mr Beswick was once a prominent Canterbury athlete and footballer. He was born at Kaiapoi on May 2, 1860, and was the son of Mr Joseph S. Beswick, a resident magistrate of that town. He was educated at Christ’s College, where he early showed prowess in sport. He captained the college cricket and Rugby football teams in 1879, and in the previous year won the Old Boys’ champion cup. After leaving school he joined the Christchurch Polo Club, and on the football field he represented Canterbury as follows: V. Otago in 1882, 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1887 ia v. Wellington, 1885, 1887; v. New South Wales, 1886; and v. Auckland, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay in 1887. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor on September 14, 1883, and was an articled law pupil in the firm of Messrs Harper and Co. In 1894 he was elected a member of the City Council, and was chosen as Mayor of Christchurch in 1896. lie was a member <Af the St Albans Borough Council prior to the amalgamation of that district with the city, and was a Christchurch Sinking Fund Commissioner from 1904 to 1929. He commenced practice as a solicitor alone, and was subsequently a member of the firm of Messrs Beswick and Harris, and from 1914 to 1929 was a member of the firm of Messrs Duncan, Cotterill and Co. He retired from practice in 1929 and had lived in London up to the time of his death. He was a director of the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., and of the National Mortgage and Agency Co. As chairman of the Christchurch Domains Board for many years he did much to improve the beauty of the Gardens. He was a member of the Christchurch Club. He married Miss Florence Ethel Mills, daughter of Sir James Mills, on October 25, 1899. There was one daughter of the marriage, Mrs Theo F. Welsh.