OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1710, 29 March 1913, Page 8

OBITUARY.

The death took place on March 19 of a highly-esteemed pioneer of Christchurch, in the person of Mrs. J. T. Smith, at the aso of 85. With her husband, tho lato Mr. J. T. Smith, founder of the firm of Smith and Anthony, Ltd., slie arrived in Christchurch in 1861, and has for 52 years sineo lived there. Sho was one of the earliest members of the St. Albans Methodist Church, and at the time of her death ranked as its senior member. In the work of that Church she took tlio keenest interest and ever sought to promote its welfnre. She was a woman of unusual mental endowments and remarkable for the breadth of her sympathies and interests. She was one of the pioneers of the woman suffrage movement in the Dominion; rendering it much assistance ii 11 its early stages, and. was deeply interested in all social reform, especially in the cause of temperance. At tho time of her death she was vice-presi-dent of Ihe Christchurch Women's Institute, and from its commencement, wns an anient member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She was mentally alert, and. vigorous up to tho last. An attack of bronchitis in the early weeks of the year weakened her failing powers and assisted to hasten tho end. She was interred in Linwood cenictery on Good Friday afternoon, in tho presence of, a large company of mourners. At a special service .in the St. Albans Methodist Church the Revs. 11. E. Bellhouse and W. A. Sinclair officiated, and tho Rev. 11. Bull also assisted at the grave. Tlio deceased lady leaves (wo sons, Mr. .T. T. Macicod-Smiih and Mr. W. Lovell-Smith, and three daughters, Mrs. J. Wood, of Opotiki, and Misses L. M. and Eleanor Smith.