OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 7

OBITUARY

MISS ESTHER KEMPSHELL Through the death of Miss Esther Kempshell, of Western Lodge, Maungatua, the Taieri district has lost a well-known and highly respected resident. The death occurred on Sunday, and the funeral was held yesterday. Miss Kempshell was born at Maungatua, where her parents, who were amongst the earliest settlers, arrived in 1860. She was educated at the local school, and resided on the farm until a few years ago. Finding the duties too arduous, she took up residence with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr and Mrs Andrew Carruthers, Ngapuna. Miss Kempshell was a great lover of well-bred stock, and a thoroughly capable farmer, as well as housekeeper. In her earlier years she was a noted competitor in the home industries section at shows, in baking and butter-making particularly. Her fancy butter was always a work of art. On one occasion a display of her work was taken to London and exhibited in the office of the High Commissioner for New Zealand. The deceased was closely associated with church and Sunday school work and various other activities of the district in her younger days. Her hospitality was well known, and she will be greatly missed. At the time of her death she still held the farm property originally owned by her father, who was "a noted breeder of Shorthorns in the early days. MR FRANK BREMNER Mr Frank Bremner, whose death occurred last week at Dunedin, was the youngest son of the late Mrs Margaret Ballantyne and the late Mr Francis Bremner. The deceased was an old resident of Mosgiel and was well known in many parts of Otago. Mr Bremner was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and served his time as an apprentice with the late Mr J. E. Jago in Mosgiel, later being employed in Dunedin. For 12 years he was employed as a carpenter on the Otago Education Board, working on many schools throughout Otago. He severed his connection with the Otago Education Board and later set up in business on his own account in Mosgiel as a builder, carrying on until the time of his death. During the last five years Mr Bremner did not enjoy the best of health. He is survived by a widow, two daughters and four sons. MR F. L. PETERSON Mr Frank Leonard Peterson, of Wellington, who was for many years employed as an engineer on vessels of the Union Company, died on Sunday. Mr Peterson joined the service of the company in 1900, when he was appointed third engineer of the Herald, and he served later on many vassels, being appointed second engineer in 1905. He left the company in 1912, and subsequently was engaged in work ashore. Mr Peterson joined the Institute of Marine Engineers in 1900, and retired in 1933. MRS GRACE MITCHINSON The death occurred at Wellington on Sunday, in her ninety-fourth year, of Mrs Grace Mitchinson. The widow of Mr Josiah Mitchinson, Lawrence, Otago, she was born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1842. She came to Dunedin with her parents in 1860, and was married at Queenstown by the Rev. Richard Coffey. After their marriage Mr and Mrs Mitchinson lived at Bendigo and Lawrence, Mrs Mitchinson going to "ellington after her husband's death at Lawrence 49 years ago. She was active and in full possession cf her faculties up to a few days prior to her death, when a fall at her h <me caused an injury from which she failed to recover. She is survived by three sons and four daughters. Her brother, Mr C. M. Jenkins, Wellington, and a sister, Mrs B. B. Ferrar, Dunedin, also survive her. MR G. A. SIMMERS The death occurred at Invercargill on Monday, in his seventyeighth year, of Mr George Annand Simmers, a prominent educationist, who will be remembered by the older generation of Otago school teachers as a tutor at Dunedin Training College, and,-in the earlier years of the present century, as headmaster of the Ashburton High School, and rector of the Timaru Bovs' High School. Mr Simmers was born at Melbourne in 1858, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand when he was four years of age. s They settled at Otepopo (now Herbert), where he received nis primary education, and in turn was later a pupil teacher. Following a period at the Training College, Mr Simmers attended Otago University and obtained his M.A. degree with first class honours in science. His academic brilliance was recognised in the award to him of a University scholarship. He taught at Ngapara and was then appointed a tutor at the Training College, later being appointed headmaster of the Ashburton High School and then rector of the Timaru Boys' High School, a position which he held until 1915, when he resigned because of ill-health. His leisure hours were partly occupied for several years as accountant to a firm of Timaru lawyers, and he subsequently resided at Stewart Island. While at the University the deceased took a lively interest in sport, and was a member of the Rugby team that played the first match against Canterbury College. He was also a fine bowler, and was associated with the late Mr Gow, school inspector, of Timaru, in winning the Dominion Pairs Championship. He was also an excellent shot with the rifle, and while a member- of the now defunct North Dunedin Rifle Club was one of the team that won the Ladies' Challenge Shield. He is survived by five sons and a daughter.

Reference was made at yesterday's meeting of the Otago University Council to the death of Mr Simmers.

Dr Fitzgerald said that he would like to move a motion in connection with a very old friend of his. Mr George Simmers, who was one of the early students of the Otago University. He did not think many of them knew Mr Simmers, but his brother-in-law was their respected treasurer, Mr James Wallace. Dr Fitzgerald said that he had been a fellow-student of Mr Simmers, who had been one of the most brilliant students at the Otago University. One of the positions which had been held by Mr Simmers had been rector of the Timaru Boys' High School. He had not only been a fine scholar but had taken an interest in athletics, and had been a member of an Otago University football team which had played against Canterbury College at Christchurch in the very early days. Mr Simmers had been an assistant

to Dr Shand. Dr Shand had relinquished the chair of mathematics and had taken over the chair of science and physics, and he knew that Mr Simmers had been of great help to him. The name of Simmers had been connected with their University for many years. Either Mr Simmers's sons or his nephews were known throughout the whole of New Zealand. One of his sons was now holding a scholarship in America. Dr Fitzgerald then moved that the council express its great regret at the death of Mr Simmers and that a letter of sympathy be sent to his relatives. The motion was carried in silence. MR IRVING THALBERG (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 14. The death has occurred of Mr Irving Thalberg from lobular pneumonia, after a week's illness. Mr Thalberg was director of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture productions. He was married to Norma Shearer, the actress. ' OSSIP GABRILOWITSCH DETROIT, September 14. The death is announced of Mr Ossip Gabrilowitsch, following a long illness. Ossip Gabrilowitsch was one of the best-known Russian pianists, who gave up a brilliant virtuoso career to become conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He studied music under Liadov and Glazounov, and piano under Leschetizkv, in Vienna, making a debut in Berlin in 1896. During the 192526 season Gabrilowitsch appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, to commemorate his appearance with that famous organisation at his debut in America 25 years ago.