OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 22447, 18 September 1936, Page 9

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN JOHN FRASER The death of Captain John Fraser in Dunedin recently severed a link with old sailing days, and removed one of the most popular seafaring men who have ever resided here. Following the sea for almost 70 years, Captain Fraser gained distinction during the wreck of the s.s. Wairarapa, while he was well known locally as captain of one of the ferry vessels that once operated between Dunedin and the Lower Harbour. The son of Kenneth Fraser, of Stornaway, Scotland, John Fraser left home at the age of 18, and, until the time of his death at the age of 88, followed the sea, mostly around the New Zealand coast. He could recall the time when, as an officer, he brought a sailing ship up to the wharf just behind the new Post Office.' As a fireman on the s.s. Wairarapa, when the vessel was wrecked off the Great Barrier reef in October, 1894, with the second officer, he attempted to bring a line from the ship to the shore, but was unsuccessful in the attempt. Survivors’ accounts of the attempt reflected great credit on the two men,- who narrowly escaped with their lives. At a meeting held in Auckland later, Captain Fraser and the second officer of the vessel were each presented with a certificate commemorating the deed and a medal. A total of 135 persons lost their lives in the wreck. At that time Captain Fraser held a master mariner’s certificate, and, following a period when he took small cargo vessels down the coast, _ he entered the ferry service operating between Dunedin and the Lower Harbour. His first command in this service was the Moerangi, and then the Waikana. The first indication of the illness that resulted in his death occurred about eight years ago, when he was bringing the Waikana up to Dunedin. Captain Fraser was at the wheel when he had a stroke, and collapsed on the bridge. Since his retirement he had been living at Portobello, but his death occurred at his son’s house in Dunedin. Many tributes were paid to Captain Qualifications as a seaman by local shipping men, when news of bis death was received. He was a real sailor of the old sailing days, and an extremely popular man with all connected with the sea. His death removed one of the old type of sailor. Captain Fraser is survived by his son and daughter (Mrs L. B. Smith, of Portobello), and Mr W. Fraser (of Edwin street, Caversham). MRS HORNIBROOK Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright RAROTONGA, September 17. (Received September 18, at 2 p.m.) The death occurred to-day of Mrs E. Hornibrook, aged 59, at Rarotonga. She was better known as Miss Jtttie Rout, formerly of Christchurch. [Miss Ettie A. Rout was first known in Christchurch as an occasional journalist and reporter of conferences, more especially those of Labour bodies. After her marriage to Mr Hornibrook, V'ho had been a teacher of_ physical culture in Christchurch, her life was lived in London. During the war she was active in a crusade to safeguard the health or troops, the methods of which were not approved in air quarters, bub courage was always a chief characteristic of Miss Rout, her other outstanding quality being her industry. Several books were written by her on subjects of diet, and' one dealing with the migration and various customs of the Maoris, in which an unorthodox view of the direction of their migration was put forward.]