OBITUARY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27396, 8 July 1954, Page 14

OBITUARY

MR R. BEATTIE Mr Robert Beattie, a Christchurch barrister arid solicitor, who for more than 30 years had given devoted service to the administration of athletics and other amateur sports in Canterbury and New Zealand, collapsed and died outside his office in Gloucester street yesterday morning. He was 61. Mr Beattie, although be had no outstanding athletic successes while* a member of the Canterbury University College Athletic Club before the war, became known throughout Canterbury and New Zealand for the service he gave in administering the sport He rose to be president of both the New Zealand and Canterbury Athletic Associations and in the last 30 years he served in every official capacity at championship meetings. In recognition of his services to the sport, Mr Beattie was elected a life member of the Canterbury association.

Mr Beattie was to have attended the 1954 Empire Games at Vancouver this month. He had intended leaving for Canada with the second contingent of New Zealand competitors. Although his main sporting interest lay in athletics, Mr Beattie was a keen follower of Rugby football. He was a member of the University First Fifteen from 1911 to 1914, but because of a wound received during the First World War he did not play on his return to New Zealand. His interest in the game did not wane, however, and, as a member of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union from 1920 to 1923, he played his part in administering the game. He once serveci as selector of a New Zealand universities’ side in the 1930’5. He was also president of the University club for several terms and was for a number of years up to 1936 coach of the senior fifteen. He was a life member and vice-president of the club at the time of his death. With Messrs J. K. Maloney and R. H. Livingstone he was directly concerned in the formation of the Old Maroons’ Club, a body which between 1936 and 1940 gave very strong support to the University Rugby team.

Mr Beattie was also a member of the Victory Park Board of Control for many years. He carried on the law practice in Christchurch started by his father. He was born in Christchurch and educated at the Christchurch West High School and Canterbury University College were he took a law degree. He went overseas during the First World War with a rifle section formed at the university and was wounded at Passchendaele.

He is survived by two sisters, both of whom live in Christchurch.

REV. S. J. COOPER

The Rev. Samuel James Cooper, who was well known for his interest in all aspects of church social work, died at his home in Christchurch on Tuesday. Mr Cooper was born in Cumberland in 1885. He did home mission work m Alberta, Canada, between 1908 and 1910, in the pioneering days of the province. He then returned to England for family reasons and did similar work among sailors and miners in his home town, Whitehaven, and in Forres, Scotland. He married Miss Jane Rankin in 1912 and in 1913 came to New Zealand as a home missionary. Mr Cooper was ordained deacon in St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Dunedin, in 1918, and in 1919 was the first priest to be ordained in the new St. Paul’s Cathedral. \

After holding various appointments Mr Cooper came to the Christchurch diocese as vicar of Addington in 1933. and while there Conducted a relief depot to help the unemployed. From 1937 to 1944 he was vicar of St. James’s Church, Riccarton. and was responsible for the building of the branch church in the parish, St. Hilda’s.

In 1944 Mr Cooper was made vicar of Oamaru and Archdeacon of North Otago. He became vicar of Waikari in 1948. After retiring in 1949 he became an officiating minister in the Christchurch diocese.

Mr Cooper first advocated nearly 20 years ago the cottage home scheme for orphans which was recently introduced in the Christchurch diocese. He was a member of a number of church standing committees and school boards and committees.

He was a Freemason for about 35 years. He was a Past Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand and a Past Master of Lodge Oamaru. While living in Oamaru he was a

member of the Rotary Club. As soon as war broke out in 1939 Mr Cooper collected, with the consent of West-Watson, the sum of £2OOO to build the Church Army hut at Burnham Military Camp. He arranged a rota of church members who hu? Vlded supper and recreat *on in the Mr Cooper is survived by his widow and three daughters—Mesdames G. V. Rivers (Culverden). I. E. Fitchett (Nelson), and J. K. Dunbar