OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 21 November 1930, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MR LEONARD BONNINGTON. Widely' known as a business man, a sportsman, and a musician, Mr Leonard Bonnington, who died yesterday morning after a sudden illness, will be mourned by many friends. He was 60 years of age. His brother, Mr George Bonnington, died only two months ago. After spending tho week-end at his Ellesmere cottage~Mr Bonnington was taken seriously ill with pneumonic influenza on his return to Christchureh on Monday morning. Ho died at 2.30 a.m. yesterday. Previously he had been in excellent health, and had only recently returned from a trip to Australia. ilr Leonard Bonnington, who was born at Nelson in September, 1870, was the third son of the late Mr Ggarge Bonnington, a well-known citizen, who founded a pharmacy first in and then in Christchureh. While he was still very young the family came to Christchureh, living for manv years at Woolston. At the age of IS Mr Bonnington entered his father's business, and in 1906, wljen Mr George Bonnington died, he was appointed managing director of the firm, a position which he has since held. Bennington also took his fathers seat on the JJew Zealand Pharmacy Board, of which he was a member for 21 years. Ue has lived continuously in Christchureh, although two years ago he spent several months in the United States of Ameriea and recently spent a few weeks in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Xew South Wales. Throughout his life Mr Bonnington was a keen sportsman, rowing, cricket, and golf being his particular interests. In his younger days he was prominently associated with the Canterbury Bowing Club. In later years golf was his chief hobby. He joined the Cbristchureh Golf •Club (Shirley) in 1903, and was soon afterwards elected to the committee, on. which he held office almost continuously for 25 years. For many years he was chairman of the Greens Committee, and on his retirement from this position in 1929 he was elected a life member of the club. Mr Bonnington was one of the founders, the patron, and an active member of the Ellesmere Golf Club. He was a member of the Christcharck Rotary Club almost from its ineeption, and his services wera always most willingly given. As a violoncellist of considerable accomplishment, he was always keenly interested in rnußie. About 20 years ago he played in the Christchurch Orchestral Society under Mr Trist Searell.

Mr Bennington is survived by hi* nee Stiss Jfaria Yensen, whom he married 20 years ago. He had three brothers, two in Australia and Mr Ceeil Uennington in Christchurch; and two sitters, Miss B. Bennington (Christchurch) and Mrs T. R, Quill (England), The funeral will leave his residence, 39 Soringfield. road, for the I/in wood Cemetery at 11 o'clock this morning.

At the annuel meeting of the Canterbury Manufacturers' Associationlast evenhig,_ a motion of sympathy with Mr Bennington's re', tit ires iras carried bv members standing. Mr I. Woojf (president) said that Mr Bonningtoo. had been a very old member and a verr well-known business man. MR W. STEVENSON. (IBS FKEBa Kpsetsl e«rrtc«.i DUNKDIN, JJovembef 20. Mr William Stevenson, of Cranmore, Hoslyn, died early th-io morning after an illness that began about five years ago and laid him up at times for about three years. It wu as a boy of *e*en years old that be came out with his parents by tho ship City ©f Lmnedin, landing in September of 1863. He was brought up to the grocery- business, and subsequently he joined Mr James Irvine in the firm of Irvine and Stevenson, and that firm established the still flourishing business of the St. George Preserving Works. Mr Stevenson married Atiss Barbara Irvine, and their family numbered thirteen, twelve of then?, being still alive —four sons and eight daughters. One of the sons is P*. Donald Stevenson, notable as a footballer and now in practice at the Dunedin Hospital. Two of the other sons, William and Irvine, carry on the father's business.