OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20310, 21 May 1934, Page 12

OBITUARY.

Henry Sprott. Mr Henry Sprott, the oldest resident of the Pendarves district and one of Ashburton’s pioneers, died at the residence of his daughter, Mrs H. R. Hampton, Pendarves, at the age of ninety-three years. Born in County Down, Ireland, in 1838, he came to New Zealand with his late brother, Mr Joseph Sprott, by the ship Glenmark arriving at Lyttelton in 1865. The two brothers immediately took up farming at Ashly Downs, Moeraki Downs and Bennetts Junction. In 1873 they sold out their holdings at Bennetts Junction and acquired property on the Acton Station, Pendarves. Mr Sprott married the second daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Angus M’Millan, of Dunedin, their home being on the well-known property of Woodvale Pendarves. Mrs Sprott died in 1930, leaving two sons, Messrs Henry (Christchurch) and John Sprott (Pendarves) and one daughter, Mrs H. R. Hampton (Pendarves). Mr Sprott was the last survivor of a family of five brothers. He was an ardent adherent of the Presbyterian Church and in his earlier days took part in all the district activities. G. A. Alexander. Mr G. A. Alexander, of Nayland Street, Sumner, died at his late residence in the early hours of Sunday morning, after an illness extending over about nine months. He was born in Christchurch in November, 1878 and received his education at the Addington and Sydenham Schools. After a short business experience with some of the leading firms of the city, he was appointed to the staff of the Christchurch Tramway Board, twentyseven years ago, and he held an important post on the clerical staff, till failing health necessitated his retirement last year. As a resident of Sumner for twentytwo years, the late Mr Alexander was associated with the Sumner Bowling Club, the Sumner Forensic Club, the Burgesses’ Association, the Beautifying Society, the District High School and the Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Christchurch Horticultural Society. A successful grower of chrysanthemums, he took an active interest in the Sumnei flower shows and in promoting the annual chrysanthemum show of the Sumner Presbyterian Church, of which he was one of the principal members. The remark- | able development of the work of the Sumner and Redcliffs Presbyterian I Church was largelv the result of his energies and organising abilities. He was a member of the Sumner

District High School Committee for a period of fourteen years, during seven of which he was chairman. At the time of his death he was patron of the Old Scholars’ Association. Mr Alexander was appointed a Justice cf the Peace in 1926. A widow and two daughters, Miss D. M. Alexander, of the staff of the Sumner Borough Council, and Miss M. A. Alexander, of the staff of the Christchurch Tramways Board, survive him.