THE LATE MR. ROBERTS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 14, 17 January 1924, Page 2

THE LATE MR. ROBERTS.

SERVICES TO COMMUNITY, interment at Auckland. The funeral of the late Air. Will'an P. Roberts, of Putaruru, took place at AVaikumete cemetery, Auckland, last Thursday afternoon. Before the cortege left the residence of deceased’, relatives in Domspion road a memorial service was held by the local wear and at the graveside the interment. was conducted with Masonic honours, Mr. Roberts having been a member of the district lodge (Tirau), which was represented at the funeral by Messrs. S. J. Parker, F. Shannon, A. G. Leggatt, M. Henderson and F. C. Barnett. Tn addition, Mr. G. P. Port as, chairman of the Putaruru Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club, and Mr. H. E. Wheeler, secretary of the Putaruru School Committee. wore present and also acted a? pall bearers. The wreaths were many am! hors testinmony to the esteem m which Mr. Robert.- v.... h -id iri Putaruru. They included one* from the Ma-onic lodge, one from the school committee, one from the school children and one from the tennis chib. Mr. Roberts’ death on the previous Tuesday occurred in somewhat tragic circumstances. It appeal’s that, not having been in good liealth of late, he arranged to consult an Auckland doctor. the day appointed being the Tuesday. Then, however, when the day arrived the doctor found he would have to go out of town and communicated with Mr. Roberts to come in earlier than the time originally appointed. Mr. Roberts hastened to comply and was travelling into the city by car with his brother-in-law when he complained of something in the nature of a seizure. He was taken into a chemist’s shop and a doctor was summoned. Mr. Roberts had by this time lost consciousness and the doctor ordered his removal at once to the hospital. However, he died not long after his admission to the institution, the. cause afterwards being 1 diagnosed as hemorvage of the brain. Muth sympathy is felt with Mrs. and Miss Roberts in their tragic bcreavement.

Deceased came to New Zealand from England some 14 years ago and accepted a position under the Auckland Education Board as teacher in charge of the Te Mata school, Raglan district. About 12 years ago he was appointed headmaster of the Putaruru school and continued in that position till the time of his death. Although unostentatious in public life All-. Roberts has done yeoman ser\*tCTrfov Pit taVuru. During; the war

he carried out the duties of secretary of the Putaruru Patriotic Association, which called for a great deal of work and time throughout about four years. Following this lie was a keen supporter of the Putaruru Bowling, Croquet and Tennis Club in its position of trustee for the Putaruru War Memorial Park, and lie also rendered valuable service as secretary for the Putaruru hall for a number of years and as a member of the Putaruru Anglican Church Committee. In all these duties he was particularly conscientious and reliable and his loss will he severely felt.