Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Opening

Lot 2840    SESSION 10 (11.30AM WEDNESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER)    Sporting & General Medals, Badges & Awards - Opening of

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,500

CHRISTCHURCH, presentation key, handcrafted in gold (9ct, 18.8g, 90x29mm), no maker or inscription, in a presentation case with silver plaque (55x24mm) inscribed 'H.J.Otley Esq./Chairman N.C.H.B. (North Canterbury Hospital Board)/Presented to Him/On The Occasion of the Opening/of the Nurses Home/By the Contractors/J.W.Beanland & Sons'; another, cast in brass (70x28mm), no maker, inscribed 'Presented to/Mrs H.J.Otley/opening of/Children's Home/Cashmere/20-10-23'; also, Masonic, Founder Medal in gilt, Civic Lodge, No.157 (42x42mm), no maker, uninscribed, bars loose on torn ribbon; another, Canterbury Lodge, No.1048 E.C., struck in gold (15ct, 23g (gross), 55x45mm), no maker, inscribed on reverse 'Presented To/Wor. Bro. H.J.Otley P.M./Canterbury Lodge 1048 E.C./As a Mark of Esteem/Feb 21 08', the last two items in a presentation case from Robert Kennett, Jeweller and Optician, 183 High St., Christchurch. Very fine. (4)

Henry John Otley (1863-1939) was the principal of one of the leading Christchurch firms of timber and coal merchants.

For more than 15 years Mr Otley was chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, an office that was more than usually onerous on account of the responsibilities of that body in supplying relief to distressed families during the depression. The son of Mr and Mrs John Otley, of London and Cambridge. Mr Otley was born in Christchurch in 1863, and received his education in Canterbury.

Mr Otley's long experience on local bodies commenced as early as 1901, when he was elected to the old Linwood Borough Council. He was chairman of the works committee of the council for the three years. When the borough was incorporated in the city in 1903, Mr Otley was elected to the Christchurch City Council, remaining in office, until his retirement in 1917. He was chairman of the finance committee of the council in 1904-5, and chairman of the Works Committee from 1904 to 1911 and from 1912 to 1917.

He was first elected to the Christchurch Drainage Board in 1902, and gave his services to that board until 1932. He was chairman of the board's Works Committee for 19 years from 1907, and chairman of the board from 1926 to 1931.

In 1912 Mr Otley became a member of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. He was chairman of its finance committee from 1915 to 1921. He was chairman for a brief term from 1920 to April 1921. In 1923 he was again appointed chairman, a position he retained until the early 1930s.

The contract for the construction of the Nurses Home at Christchurch Hospital was signed in December 1930 with J.W.Beanland and Sons and presumably opened a year or two later.