OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21414, 5 March 1935, Page 12

OBITUARY

* MR C. E. STEVENS The death occurred recently, after a short illness, of Mr C. E. Stevens, 482 Gloucester street, Christchurch. Mr Stevens arrived in New Zealand from Worcestershire, England, in 1907, and joined the Public Works Department at Gisborne, later transferring to the Post and Telegraph Department at Christchurch.

At the outbreak of war he joined the New Zealand Engineers of the Main Body, and was on active service throughout the war period. On his return to New Zealand. Mr Stevens resumed duty as senior draughtsman at the Christchurch Post Office, which position he held until the time of his death. He was a member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and the Post and Telegraph Officers' Guild. Mr Stevens leaves a widow. MR JOHN PETRIE An old and highly-respected farmer of the Rangiora district, John Petrie, of Coldstream, died at his residence, yesterday morning, in his sev-enty-first year. Mr Petrie was born at Woodend in 1865, and after attending the Woodend School took up farming. He leased a Canterbury College reserve at Waikuku for several years, but ultimately settled at Coldstream, where he leased about 300 acres of the original Coldstream Estate. When that block of land was subdivided Mr Petrie bought about 230 acres of the land which' he has farmed successfully for the last 23 years. Mr Petrie was a life member of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association (Rangiora), and a director of the Cam Diary and Produce Company (Rangiora).

Mr Petrie married twice, his first wife, who died many years ago, being Miss J. Drabble, of Kaiapoi. Some years after her death Mr Petrie married Miss E. Dukes, of Christchurch, who is still alive, together with two daughters, Miss K. Petrie (Coldstream, Rangiora), and Miss Margaret Petrie, who is on the nursing staff of the Greymoufh Hospital, and two sons, Messrs A. Petrie (Rangiora) and D. Petrie (Coldstream). Mr Petrie will be buried in the Woodend cemetery. MR G. HICKS A very old and much respected resident of the Waimatc district, Mr Gordon Hicks, aged 93 years, died recently. Born at Cardenham, Cornwall, in 1842, Mr Hicks, with his family, came to New Zealand in the ship Orari, arriving at Waimate at the time when the barracks was in use for immigrants. Here Mr and Mrs Hicks and family stayed until a residence was found. Mr Hicks engaged in road construction work in the early years until he took up land at Hunter, which he farmed until advancing years compelled his retirement, when he took up his residence in Waimate. Five daughters and a son survive him. another son having been killed in the Great War. Mrs Hicks predeceased her husband some 15 years ago.

FATHER D. MCLAUGHLIN I'RKS.-i ASSOCIATION 1 KU-.CKAM.) WELLINGTON, March 4. The death lias occurred of the Rev. Father D. McLaughlin, parish priest at Stratford. The funeral will take place at Stratford to-morrow morning after Requiem Mass. MR SILAS SPRAGG , PItr.HS ASSOCIATION TKLKC.UAM.I DUNEDIN, March 4. The death has occurred of Mr Silas Spragg, aged 81, chief of the Hansard stall' for 24 years. I Born at Madely, Shropshire, in 1853, Mr Spragg came to New Zealand while a young man. He joined the Auckland "Evening News" as a cadet reporter, and later transferred to the "New Zealand Herald." He was soon engaged in court and Provincial Counci' and other reporting work. As a young man he joined the "Otago Guardian." When the proprietary changed to the "Otago Daily Times*" he changed with it until in 1900 he resigned to become chief of the Hansard start", of which lie had been a member since 1884. He retired in 1924, and went to live at Milton.]