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Obituary.
DEATH OF MR. H. J.
HOLDEN.
A SPLENDID CAREER
ENDED.
Mr. H. J. Holden, chairman of directors
of Holden's Motor Body Builders, Limited,
died at 1 o'clock on Saturday afternoon,
in his sixty-seventh year. He was one
of the most respected citizens of Ade-
laide. His business acumen and fore-
sight were remarkable, and it was due in
a large measure to him that the huge un-
dertaking which has sprung up at Wood-
ville during the past two or three years
in connection with the manufacture of
motor bodies has been so successful. Mr.
Holden devoted much time to municipal
affairs, and rendered valuable service to
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Mr. H. J. Holden [photo]
the public. Of charming manner, great
business capability, strict integrity, and
generous disposition, he was esteemed by
all who knew him. His name had been
prominently connected with social phil-
anthropic, charitable, and religious work
all his life.
Born in 1859, in Kensington, in an old
house which was once Colonel Freeling's
Mr. Holden began his education at Mr.
Thomas Caterer's school in Beulah-road,
Norwood, and finished it at the Hahndorf
Academy. About 50 years ago he entered
his father's business house, working up
from the position of office boy through
the various departments until he was sole
proprietor. When his father died he con-
ducted the business himself. In 1885 he
took into partnership Mr. H. A. Frost, and
the firm, which was known as Holden
and Frost, had its headquarters in Gren-
fell-street, and dealt in leather goods and
saddlery. In 1909 Mr. Frost died, and Mr.
Holden bought his interest in the business.
The reputation of the firm spread all over
Australia, and the business prospered,
with Mr. Holden at the head of it. In
1918 a limited company was formed,
with Mr. H. J. Holden as governing
director, and Messrs. E. W. Holden and
A. M. Lemon co-directors. Shortly after-
wards the possibilities of the motor-body
manufacturing field were exploited.
Beginning in a small way, the firm first
manufactured hoods for motor cars.
Then it started building bodies, and
larger premises became necessary. The
large works in King William-street,
Adelaide, soon became too small to sup-
ply the orders which were received, and
it was decided to erect the present large
manufacturing plant at Woodville on
the latest lines and with the latest
machinery and devices. To-day it is
the largest plant of its kind outside
America. It is interesting to remember
that Mr. Holden had the opportunity
of establishing the business in New South
Wales, but through his patriotic attach-
tachment to this State he decided to set
it up here.
Mr. Holden took an ardent interest in
the municipal affairs of Kensington and
Norwood, of which town he was Mayor
for eight years—a record for that muni-
cipality. He was an active delegate to
the Municipal Association, and was one
of the original members of the Munici-
pal Tramways Trust. He also rendered
valuable services in connection with
educational matters as a member of the
Norwood School Board of Advice. In re-
ligious and philanthropic affairs he took
a leading place. For several years he was
president of the Young Men's Christian
Association, and he had a long and honor-
able connection with the Baptist Union,
for which he was president for 21 years.
It was while Mr. Holden was Mayor of
Kensington and Norwood that the Nor-
wood Oval became the property of the
municipality. He was a member of the
council of the Chamber of Manufactures
for many years. His father (Mr. A. J.
Holden) was one of the original founders
of the chamber. His son, Mr. E. W. Hol-
den, left Adelaide about a fortnight ago
on a tour of the world.
The deceased gentleman had been in ill
health for about four months. He leaves
a widow, two sons—Messrs. E. W. Holden
(managing director of Holden's Motor
Body Builders, Limited), and W. A. Hol-
den (a member of the company—and
three daughters, Mesdames R. A. Haste
Norwood), L. W. A. Peacock (Berri), and
W. Shaughnessy (Monash).
Mrs. Gurry, wife of Mr. Richard Gurry,
died recently at Kapunda at the age of
69. She was born at Kapunda, and was
the eldest daughter of Mr. Patrick Ken-
nedy. When 26 years of age she married
Mr. Gurry, and had resided the whole of
her life in Kapunda and district. Besides
the husband, four daughters survive—
Mrs. J. Moon and Mrs. J. Lithgow (Wes-
tern Australia), Miss K. Gurry (Spalding),
and Miss Gurry (Kapunda).
Mrs. Fewster, one of the earliest settlers
in the Tatiara District, died at Border-
town on Wednesday, March 3. She was
the daughter of the late Dr. Penny, and
was born at Robe in 1859. She went to
the Tatiara District with her father in
District with her father in 1861 and re-
sided at "Charla," which was one of the
first properties purchased when the lands
were opened up for selection. Mrs. Few-
ster's husband (Mr. A. H. Fewster), who
was one of the earliest storekeepers of Bor-
dertown, predeceased her nineteen years
ago, and since then Mrs. Fewster had
lived quietly at Bordertown. Besides a
host of friends, to whom she had endear-
ed herself, she leaves three daughters—
Mrs. E. W. Venn, of Bordertown; Mrs. G.
Benn, of Melbourne; and Miss B. Fewster,
of the Education Department.
Our Stockport correspondent writes:—
Sympathy is felt throughout this district
for the Hartnett family. A few weeks
ago, Mr. James Hartnett died. He had
been ill for some time, with a doctor and
nurse in attendance, but had made a good
recovery when a sudden collapse took
place, and he died within half an hour.
He was 62 years of age, having been
born at Summer Hill Farm, and lived
there all his life. The shock of Mr. Hart-
nett's death proved too much for his
brother (Mr. Dennis Hartnett), who be-
came ill, and also died a few days ago at
the age of 68. They were sons of Mr. and
Mrs. Patrick Hartnett, well-known and
respected residents of this district. Mr.
Dennis Hartnett was born at Willunga.
An added sad feature is that another bro-
ther, Mr. Patrick Hartnett, now lies in
the same home seriously ill. The deceased
gentlemen were members of St. Mary's
Roman Catholic Church, Hamley Bridge.
The surviving members of the family are:
—Miss Julia Hartnett, Messrs. John, Pat-
rick, and Cornelius Hartnett, of Stockport;
and Mr. Thomas Hartnett, schoolmaster
at Goolwa.
Our Salisbury correspondent writes:—
Mr. Jacob Hooper, who died on Saturday
as the result of an accident in King Wil-
liam-street on Thursday evening, was
born at Altarnun, Cornwall, on March
[10], 1839. He arrived in South Austra-
lia with his parents in the Isabella Wat-
son on May [14], 1846.
Mr. C. A. Wittber, who died on Monday
at his residence at Dulwich, was a well-
known and much-respected member of
the Education Department in South Aus-
tralia. Born in Silesia on May 1, 1849, Mr.
Wittber came to Australia in November,
Mr. C. A. Wittber. Help
Mr. C. A. Wittber [photo].
1855, with his parents. After their arri-
val at Port Adelaide, the family went to
Tanunda and settled there. Mr. Wittber
attended the Tanunda school, conducted
by the late Mr. F. Basedow. In 1861 he
secured a position in the local printing
office as a compositor. Early in 1863 he
came to Adelaide and continued at his
trade in a printing office in Grenfe
street. After completing his apprentice-
ship he returned to Tanunda. He went
to Melbourne in 1869 in connection
with the publication of the "Austra-
lische Zeitung." He married, in 1871,
Miss Sarah A. King, of St. Kilda, and in
1873 returned to Tanunda, where he
secured a position as assistant teacher
under Mr. F. W. Kruger. He passed his
teacher's examination in 1876, and
was appointed to the new school at
Smithfield in the following year. He
was teaching for two years at Smith-
field, and was then transferred to Salis-
bury, where he remained for seven
years. His next appointment was to the
Burra Public School in 1885, where he
spent seven years. He was instrumen-
tal in the formation of the Burra Teach-
ers' Association. His next transfer was
made in January, 1893, when he took
charge of the new school at Rose Park.
Mr. Wittber was interested in Esperanto,
and in 1905 he succeeded in passing the
required test. In the following year his
health gave way and he took a long tour,
the Education Department granting him
leave of absence for six months. He in-
spected schools on the Continent and in
Great Britain. On his return he took up
teaching at the Gilles-street school. Dur-
ing his Burra term (1886-1892) he was
responsible for the publication of several
school atlases, reading books, and songs,
which are at present in use in the schools.
He was also closely connected with the
inauguration of the penny bank depart-
ment at the Gilles-street school. His wife
died 23 years ago. Mr. Wittber leaves
two sons and one daughter. They are
Mrs. A. V. Laught, of Kingswood, and
Messrs F. A. Wittber, headmaster of
East Cannington School (W.A.), and C.
W. Wittber, of Clarence Park. There
are eight grandchildren.
Councillor T. E. Drage, of Laura, whose
death was announced on Saturday,
was born at Laurua 40 years ago. From
early boyhood he took a great interest
in sport, being one of the best footballers
in the north, and he played until three
years ago. He was known right through-
out the north as a footballer and cours-
ing enthusiast, having won several good
stakes during the last few seasons. At the
last annual meeting of the Laura Jockey
Club he was appointed a committeeman,
and his services will be greatly missed
by the club. He also took an interest in
municipal affairs, and was councillor
for East ward for several years. He
leaves a wife and five small children.
Mrs. Hilda Bohn, who died at Cross-roads,
near Moonta, on March 3, was 68 years
of age, and was born at Yankalilla. She
had been a resident of Cross-roads for over
40 years. There are left a widower (Mr.
Karl Bohn), one son (Mr. A. J. Bohn, Ade-
laide), and four daughters, Mesdames
L. A. P. Lovelock (Adelaide), W. V. When-
nan and F. W. Tonkin (Moonta), and
A. A. Rutter (Port Victoria).
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