MR. H. P. CAUGHEY~DEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 512, 15 November 1928, Page 10

MR. H. P. CAUGHEY~DEAD

DIRECTOR OF WELLKNOWN CITY FIRM BUSINESS MAN AND ALTRUIST An altruist who devoted half ua time to work for the public Mr. Hugh Price R. Caughey * director of the firm of Smith and Caughey, died to-day at the an. of 36 years. 9 About a month ago he, a« president of the New Zealand Associated Cham 1 bers of Commerce, attended the con ference in Wellington and there he u sever© heart attack. Pleurisy alan set in and since his return he had been confined to his home in Quentin Avenue, Epsom. The third son of Mr. A. C. Caughev one of the founders of the firm, the late Mr. Hugh Caughey, was born on August 19, 1892. He was educated at Prince Albert College and King’s College Auckland, and he distinguished himself at games, playing both cricket and football for his school. He afterwards was prominent in territorial work, going into the retired list with the rank of captain. Rejected for active service in the Great War, he ‘served at home in various capacities. PUBLIC WELFARE Of late years Mr. Caughey had devoted as much of his time to public welfare as he had to affairs of business. Under his chairmanship of the Wesley College Trust Board, the school grew from a small beginning at Three Kings to a college with 120 studente and 700 acres of land at Paerata. At this institution, branches of agriculare taught to boys of both European and Maori races. He was also a director of the Methodist orphanages and he took & keen interest in social welfare. He was lately appointed chairman of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and he was a vice-president of the Auckland Chamber. The late Mr. Caughey was also a director of the Dominion Investment and Banking Association. He married Miss L. D. Page, a daughter of Mr. Arthur Page of Mount Albert, and is survived by the widow and three small sons, the eldest being about 10 yeanof age. AN EDUCATIONALIST Among many activities, the late Mr. Caughey was an enthusiast in the cause of education. Less than two years ago he called a meeting at the university, of educationalists and business men, with the idea of getting closer co-ordination between the trade* and professions and the schools. As a result of the meeting, the Auckland Educational Society was formed, and he was elected the first vice-nresident It was hoped by members that next year Mr. Caughey would have accepted the presidency of the society. “These public services, combined with the responsibility of a large business, indicated that Mr. Caughey was a citizen of unusual ability and energy,** said Mr. A. G. Lunn, past-president of the Chamber of Commerce, and president of the Educational Society, to-day. “It was hoped by many of his colleagues that he would go far in the public service. His loss is a serious one, for men of his public spirit and of his capacity and devoid of selfseeking aims axe hard to find.**