OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 22440, 10 September 1936, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR H. K. WILKINSON Recognised as a capable and successful business man, and one who interested himself in many local organisations, Mr Howitt Key Wilkinson died at his home at 33 Royal Terrace, at the ago of 75 years, last evening. Mr Wilkinson was born at Lincolnshire, England, and in his early twenties accompanied his older brother to Dunedin, where he remained until his death, although his brother returned Home, ■where he died shortly afterwards. Join-

ing the firm of Messrs Hogg, Howison, Nicol, and Co., Mr Wilkinson remained there for a period, transferring eventually to the firm of Messrs J. Rattray and Sons, with whom he continued until the last. When the latter firm changed into a private company he was associated with the management, being appointed a director. Mr Wilkinson had many other business interests in the Icity, being at times director of the New Zealand Acetylene and Hardware Company Ltd., the Otago and Southland Finance Corporation Ltd., and Messrs Paterson and Barr Ltd. Many years ago ho was Mayor of Caversham for a term, taking a very active interest in public affairs of the district. He was also for a time a director of St. Margaret’s College. Always interested in -the welfare of the youth of the city, Jklr Wilkinson was connected with the Y.M.C.A. for a long period of years. He had held_ the office of president of the board of directors of the association, and at the lime of his death was a vice-president. Only a few years ago he was also president of the National Council of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. Early in the present century he was instrumental in establishing and building up a fund for the erection of the present Y.M.C.A. building in- Moray Place, and when these premises were opened in 1911 it meant the realisation of one of his ambitions to do something for the young people. For a time he was also a member of the Advisory Council of the Y.W.C.A. During the war years he rendered special service to the Y.M.C.A., and was rewarded with the honour of the Order of the British Empire. In recent years he interested himself in the work of the Girl Guides and the Boy Scouts. A sincere worshipper at Knox Presbyterian Church, he was an elder of the church for 30 years. _ _ Mr Wilkinson married, twice, his first wife predeceasing him several years ago. He was the father of a family of four—three sons and one daughter. One son, Mr Stanley Wilkinson, was managing director of the firm of Messrs J. Rattray and Sons at Christchurch, but died in July, 1928. Another, the Rev. Frank H. Wilkinson, is at present stationed at Timaru, while the third, Mr Maurice Wilkinson, is a!so_ with Messrs J. Rattray and Sons’ Christchurch office. His daughter is Mrs A. M. Cameron, of Dunedin. MR G. H. CRAIG A well-known and _ highly respected resident of Mosgiel died last Saturday in the person of Mr George Hodgson Craig. He was. the fourth son of the late Mr and Mrs John Craig and was horn at St. John’s Chapel, County Durham, England, on August 28, 1877. He followed various mining occupations during his early life, and when still a young man came to New Zealand in 1905. Ever since he had been connected with farming operations, moving in 1915 to the Taieri, where he established himself as a successful farmer. Mr Craig was a staunch supporter of the Methodist _ Church throughout his- lifetime, having been superintendent of the Mosgiel Sunday school for several yearn and a circuit steward of the same church for upwards of the last' 20 years. At the time of his death he was a vice-president of the Taieri Cricket Club,, a committee, member of the Taieri Horticultural Society, and a member of the Otago A. and P. Society. A wide circle of friends will mourn his passing and _ extend sympathy to his sorrowing widow and sons J. J, Craig (Hamilton), and H. H. Craig (Christchurch). MR ROBERT LEE The death occurred unexpectedly yesterday at his residence, Anderson’s Bay, of Mr Robert Lee, a well-known figure in commercial and engineering circles in Dunedin. Mr Lee was educated at the Waitaki Boys’, High School, and later took his mining degrees at the University of Otago. After being associated with the Railway Department for a year or two, he joined the Kaitangata Coal Company, assuming the. managership on the death of his father. Seven or eight years ago he. resigned and became a consulting engineer, interesting himself more particularly in gold mining enterprises, including the karito Company and the Clutha Dredging Company. Several years ago he visited Victoria and reported to the Government on the State coal fields. He was the New Zealand representative on Messrs F. W. Payne and Son, and was a director of a number of public companies, including the New Zealand Express Company, Messrs Hogg and Co., and several mining concerns. Apart from his commercial interests, hlr Lee took 1 no active part in public affairs, but in his private life he revealed engaging qualities which gained him the esteem of a great many friends. He is survived by his wife, one son, and two daughters.