OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1933, Page 15

OBITUARY

MRS. J. M. CBOUCHER.

(From "The Post's" Representative.) NELSON, September 28. Tho .death of Mrs. J. M. Croucher at her residence, "Isleden," Richmond, in her 87th year, severs one of tho few remaining links with the early days of the district. She was the sceoud daughter of the late Mr. Fedor Kelling, a former German Consul who was a member of the Nelson Provincial Council, and also of New Zealand's first elected Parliament. Ho was a; keon educationist, and saw to it that his daughter attended the best available school in Nelson, while her elder j brothers were amongst the earliest scholars enrolled at Nelson College. Shortly after leaving school Miss Kelling established a private school in Bichmond, and quickly proved herself a very gifted teacher. She gave up teaching in 18S1, in which year she was married to Mr. Croueher, Bichmond's second Mayor, who died seventeen years ago. Her only daughter, Louise Croucher, is well known in musical circles in Christchurch. She was for five years a student at tho 'Leipzig Conservatorium, whore she .made snch successful finals in violin, ' piano, ■ and composition that she was awarded tho Helbrig Diploma and Scholarship of Honours—a distinction I that only one other New Zealander (Mr. Alfred Hill) holds.