OBITUARY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21177, 29 July 1940, Page 9

OBITUARY

MR H. W. BATGER FORMER CHAMPION ATHLETE (By Telegraph. —Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday A former New Zealand champion athlete, Mr Harold William Batger, died in Auckland at the age of 74. Representing Wellington, Mr Batger held the New Zealand 120 yards hurdles championship from 1888 to 1891 and again from 1893 to 1894. He was also 440 yards hurdles champion from 1890 to 1892 and from 1893 to 1894. At Dunedin in 1891 he gained a victory over the then holder of the world’s 120 yards hurdles title, and his win was officially recognised. In the following year he was a member of a New Zealand athletic team which toured Great Britain. In the South African War Mr Batger fought through the campaign, reaching the rank of acting-major. After being demobilised in New Zealand he returned to South Africa. In 1915 he went to England and received an appointment as captain in the Public Schools Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, with which he served until he was severely wounded in the first Battle of the Somme. On recovering he was given an administrative post in France, which he held until after the armistice, being mentioned in despatches. After living in retirement in England, Mr Batger returned to Auckland about five years ago. He is survived by his only son, Mr Guy Batger, of Remuera. REV. R. HILL JOHNSON (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday The Vicar of Takapuna, the Rev. Richard Hill Johnson, died suddenly as the result of a heart attack at the vicarage yesterday afternoon. He had conducted three services in the morning. Mr Johnson had returned a week before from Rotorua, where he was recuperating after indisposition. Born in Cambridge 56 years ago, Mr Johnson spent the whole of his ministerial life in the Auckland Diocese. He was ordained deacon in 1919 and priest in 1921. After serving as assistant curate at Whangarei until 1923, he spent nearly two years in charge of the Coromandel district and was vicar of Kaitaia from 1924 to 1928 and of Helensville from 1928 to 1936, when he was appointed to Takapuna. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. There are three grand-children. One of his sons is in England with the second echelon and the other is on military duty at Narrow Neck. MP. F. W. WILLIAMS FORMER MAYOR OF NAPIER (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) HASTINGS, Sunday A former Mayor of Napier and a prominent business executive for over half a century, Mr Fredric Wanklyn Williams, aged 86, died yesterday at his home in Napier. A son of the late Bishop W. L. Williams, he was born in Poverty Bay, and was educated at St. John’s College and the Church of England Grammar School, Auckland. In 1880, Mr Williams’ opened business on his own account in Napier. The business was converted in 1891 into the well-known firm of Williams and Kettle, Limited, of which Mr Williams was chairman of directors until his retirement in 1918. He continued as a director of the company until his death. Elected Mayor of Napier in 1903, Mr Williams was elected unopposed for a second term. He figured prominently in church work, and for many years was a member of the Diocesan Synod, the Auckland and Waiapu Clergy Pensions Board and St. John's College Trust. At the age of 80 Mr Williams began to write a book, entitled “Through 90 Years.’’ This work was published last year, proving a valuable contribution to the historic writings in connection with the centennial. Mr Williams is survived by his widow and three sons.