OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 20, 31 October 1944, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR R. H. HOOPER

We regret to announce the passing of one of Whakatane's oldest identities in the person of the late Mr Robert Henry Hooper.

Mr or 'Bert' as he was familiarly called, had an association with this district over a period of 50 years, and could relate, many an interesting story of the early life of Whakatane when the township comprised only a few buildings nestling at the foot of the hills, and the number of residents, could jus>t about to counted on one's lingers.

In those days Wliakatane was very isolated, the only means of access being by steamship from Auckland or else a laborious journey overland by coach or horseback to other centres. Mr Hooper was born in 1870 and was a son of the late Dr., R. R. and Mrs Hooper of Auckland. He first arrived in Wliakatane in the year 1894 and subsequently married Miss Charlotte white a daughter of the late Mr Bennett White. It was lie^ it will be remembered who was 'f massacred by the wild Hau-Hau natives on the Waiotahi Beach while carrying the mails from Opotiki to Tauranga. Mr Hooper in the early days took an active part in the life of the community, Jjeing Secretary of the School Committee for a number of years. He was also Secretary of the Wliakatane Racing Club when that body held race meetings on its course, which comprised practically the whole of the area on which the suburb of Kopeopeo now stands. He was associated too with the North-

ern Steamship Co. ? the Whakatane Harbour Board (as: wharfinger) the N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Co. and several of the earlier firms in business in the town.

He leaves his widow and four chiL dren Mirs F. Clarke (Levin); Mr J. B. Hooper (Whakatane and ex-2nd N.Z.E.F.); Mr W. A. Hooper (Whakatane); Mrs L. Warbrick (Matata) .* There are thirteen grand children and two great 5 great, grand children.