LIFE OF SERVICE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32408, 17 March 1944, Page 7

LIFE OF SERVICE

MR FRANK H. CLAXTON INTEREST IN THE DISTRICT i PROMINENT THAMES CITIZEN A prominent citizen of Thames, whose life was crowded with much public activity, Mr Frank Henry Claxton passed away at a private , hospital at Auckland on Monday morning, after some years' of indifferent health.. Aged 71, Mr Claxton was born at Norwich, Ehgland. He passed through the primary and, high schools and then learnt the tailoring business with his father, later taking I ovei’ the business in Albert street, Thames'. Some years afterwards he bought the present large building in Pollen street, north Thames, and went in for the manufacturing side of the business, later forming it into a company, known to-day as the Hauraki Clothing Factory, Ltd. This he conducted with particular’ success, the number of hands' increasing to nearly 120. In addition to his business, Mr Claxton took a keen interest in all local affairs. He was elected borough councillor in 1907 and Mayor in 1909 and again in 1911', chairman of the Thames County Council in 1917, and at different periods sat on the hospital, harbour and High School boards. He was also chairman of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board for many years during the time the board was installing its mains throughout its large area. Mr Claxton was responsible for the starting of the Thames Co-opera-tive Terminating Building Society and the Thames Fisheries, Ltd. In mining, Mr Claxton was associated with the diamond drilling at Thames and the low-grade ore development at Waiomo, as well as many other mining ventures throughout the Hauraki Peninsula.

During l the several years that the Thames Agricultural Society functioned, Mr Claxton proved a very able andi energetic secretary, and when the society was wound up the members presented him with a handsome roll-top writing desk in appreciation of his many services. He was a member of the Thames Old Boys’ Association and was a liberal supporter to the Methodist Church. He was a Freemason of many years’ standing, being a past-master and later treasurer for many years of Lodge Sir Walter Scott. He was also a past-king of the Hauraki Royal Arch Chapter.

Mr Claxton was also a well-known philatelist, his collection of stamps being one of the finest in New Zea-

land. He also possessed a fine collection of old and rare coins. It can be truthfully said of Mr Claxton that he was a most public-spirited citizen and in all his public activities his one-desire was to improve the town of Thames and provide benefits for its citizens. He is survived by one son, Mr W. H. Claxton (Thames), and two daughters, Mrs E. W. Cole (Thames)' and Miss Winnie Claxton, of Australia. His wife died some years ago. Mrs Scott (Perth) and Miss Claxton (Thames) are sisters. MR HERBERT H. LANGDON 40 YEARS SPENT IN THAMES A resident of Thames for the past 40 years, Mr Herbert Henry Lang-

don died at Thames on Saturday evening. Mr Langdon, who was single, was born in Bridgewater, Somerset, England, and arrived 1 in the Dominion when a child with his 1 parents in the ship Northumberland. He was apprenticed to the tailoring trade and when the late Mr F. (H. Claxton opened the Hauraki Clothing Factory Mr Langdon was appointed cutter, and remained with the firm until he retired a few years ago. Although not in an executive capacity, Mr Langdon took a keen interest in all branches of sport. "■ Mr Langdon is survived by three brothers, William and Charles (Auckland) and Tom (Waihi) and one sister, Mrs Schmidt, of Hauraki Plains'.