MR. JOB LEADBEATER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 136, 6 December 1938, Page 13

MR. JOB LEADBEATER

A well-known figure in lodge circles in the Hutt Valley was removed by the death today of Mr. Job Leadbeater, in his eighty-second year.

Born on January 30, 1857, in Coventry, England, and educated at Bollake School, Mr. Leadbeater arrived at Wellington on January 22, 1875, and worked for six months in the Lion Foundry. He then walked from Ashburton to Dunedin, where he found employment in a foundry. He left at the end of 1877 for the Kumara goldfields. Later, he returned to Wellington, and was re-engaged at the Lion Foundry. In 1883 Mr. Leadbeater and his wife took

up residence in Petone, and Mr. Leadbeater started work in the railway workshops, whei'e 'he remained until the end of January, 1917.

Mr. Leadbeater joined Court Pride of Dunedin, Ancient Order of Foresters, on January 25, 1876, and was put into office as junior beadle on the night of his initiation. On his return to Wellington in 1878 he joined Court Sir George Grey, 3118, A.0.F., by clearance, and held several offices in that court. Court Epuni, 7314, was opened by a torchlight procession through Petone on May 28,1886. Mr. Leadbeater was elected court secretary, and held office for 47 years until his retirement. He opened the juvenile court in October, 1886. He also went to Lower Hutt and gathered the names of members and opened Court Bloomfield himself in 1891. He opened Court Primrose for women in 1892. He went through the chairs of the district executive in 1891 and received the honour of P.D.C.R. that year.

Mrs. Leadbeater died on February. 5. The family consists of Messrs. Len Leadbeater (Pokeno) and Job Leadbeater (Tauranga) and Mesdames M. Barker (Wellington), H. L. Miles (Waihi), D. Petherick (Petone), and W. A. Petersen {Petone). •