OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 15

OBITUARY.

—♦ — UK J. C. HODGSON'. The In:c .Mr J. C. Hodgson,- xvhOM funeral takes place ou Xcw Year's Day, was born in Manchester, England, iu 185 G. Ho was educated at Ackworth College i:i Yorkshire. Being of a roving disposition, he eventually persuaded his father to apprentice him to tin: sea. He spent two years of his life ou ;t sailing vessel, and visited Lyttoltoii about JS7i«, eventually settling in Victoria, where, for a number of years, lie held a responsible municipal position. Owing-to the indifferent health of his first wife, and her desire to return to New Zealand, he arrived in Wellington in IPOS. His son, Mr P. J\ Hodgson, joined him in business iu 190S, in what is now known as The Dominion Mercantile Agency, Ltd. Branches were eventually enoned in the three main .-ontres, and Mr J. 0. Hodgson took charge of the Christi hurch office about 191t\ .His f.rst wir'o died two years after fuming to "yew Zealand, and in 191G he ir.arriol Mi-s Peole, of Christchurch, ilio u.r.igiifer of a well-known artist and painter "of New Zealand scenery. Mr Hodgson recently underwent an operation which was apparently suecessfui: but his heart latterly troubled him, ami lie suffered from insomnia. The tragic finding of his body on the beach at Sumner was accounted for iu his doctor's evidence at the inquest, which showed that Mr Hodgson had talcen a strong: procribed sleeping draught which it is surmised did nothave immediate effect, and he went for a walk on the beaeh. where, either, his heart failed or he fell insensiblo from the efforts of the draught, and was drowned by the incoming fide. He leaves one son and one daughter by the first marriage, the former being Mr P. F. Hodgson, and the latter Mrs 11. P. Semmens, of Invercargill, alio a widow, and sou by the second marriage.