OBITUARY

Western Star, 10 April 1934, Page 2

OBITUARY

JOHN CHARLES' THOMSON.

By the death of John Charleß (Thomson which took place •at his residence, Havelock Street, Riverton, on Monday morning, Wallace has lost one of its most eminent public men. Born in Invercargill, where ■ he. was educated partly at a .private -school, and after at one of the public schools, the late Mr Thomson served - his indenture to a printer- and --then , took up journalism. He was one of the founders of the Invercargill' Debating Society which flourished' forty years ago and held an illuminated address from this which is signed by many who have occupied high positions since then. He was also one of the founders of the Old Invercargill City Band, under Mr John Black. He became a member of' the Invercargill Ibrresters Lodge in April, 1890, and represented that Lodge on the Friendly Societies Dispensary- management committee" for some years. He joined the Aparima Masonic Lodge No. 77 in 1902. In 1891 he was made a Juetice of the Peace and waa therefore the oldest member of that; Association. In the: nineties the late Mr Thomson started a school for teaching Pitman’s Shorthand with Mr John Ward, of the “Southern Cross,” and was the first to obtain 120 words a minute, thereby obtaining Ms special certificate dated 3rd September 1889. The examiners, were*John Feldwick, R. A. Cuthbertson and Rev. F. W. Isitt. In 1925 Mr Thomson was elected a Fellow of the English Phonographic Society. He was the proprietor of this journal for eleven and contributor of\ leading articles for forty yearai During liis residence ot forty-five years he took a leading par* in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town and district. He occupied the position of chairman of the Riverton District High School, was a councillor of the Borough, and three times Mayor. He was a member of the first Licensing Committee elected on the Parliamentary franchise for Wallace and was elected to Parliament in 1902. Ho served continuously until 1919, when he was defeated by 40 votes. He was reelected in 1922 and retired in 1925, not seeking re-election. It will thus be seen that -his Parliamentary career extended over a period of twenty years. He was first elected, to the Education Board to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the-late D. L. Mathieson in 1900 and .occupied the position of chairman on Six-occasions. He represented the-Edu-cation Board . for twenty years on the High Sfchool Board of Governors, and for many years on the Technical College Council. Up to the time of his demise he waa still a member of the Otago University Council. Off and on for the past forty years he has been a member of the Wallace Hospital Board and was chairman. He was elected a member of the Royal Commission on Education in 1912 and was the winner of a gold medal in-literature at the Christchurch Exhibition in 1900. During his career in Wallace the late Mr Thomson was ever ready to assist the back block settler, and strongly supported thenneeds both in and out of Parliament. Hia motto was .to help those in wane, be. it friend ,or foe, and his passing away will be regretted by a large circle of friends. ■ Ho was married in 1893 and his wife predeceased him gome years ago. He also lost his only eon who enlisted in the. war and died in Greytown military hospital while undergoing training in June, 1916. As an indication of the epteein in which he was held the late Mr Thomson was accorded a social and presented with an illuminated address some three months ago by numerous friends from all parts of Wallace.

For the past month the late Mr Thomson had been engaged in writing the history of Riverton, to be published during the Centenary.

' NORMAN BEER,

A well-known and esteemed resident of Riverton passed away this morning in the person of Norman Beer, aged 46. Deceased was the son of the late H. ! S. Beer-and like his father was engaged in •boat building. He built- a largo number of all kinds of boats, amongst the largest-being the Well known auxiliary launch Aparima. The late Mr Beer always took an active interest in aquatic Watters, and prior to his illness had’just completed a sailing boat which waa christened' Miss Riverton. Since the formation of the Riverton Sailing Club he was elected Commodore. He leaves ft widow and one son who will have the sympathy of a large- circle of friends in their bereavement.