OBITUARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8304, 24 November 1915, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR RICHARD HENRY CLARKE

Another ov the old identities of Timaru's pioneer days has passed away in the person or Mr It. H. Clarke, wbx> died at the i residence of his daughter, Mrs Chas. Brown, Ashburton, on Saturday morning. Mr Clarke left Cornwall, England, for New Zealand with his wife and family, in October, 1863; in the ship, .-TJptree, arriving at. Lyttelton .three, .months latery and came on direct to ■ Timaru in the steamer City oi Dunedin, "and from the open roadstead were brought ■ashore in surf boats.. Timaru, was. only just beginning in those days, the hardships were great, and food was scarce and very dear, but those early settlers were a noble band of workers, who toiled long and arduously to make a home for themselves and' their families. After some time Mr Clai'k'e got a position in a store owned by Messrs 1 Cain and LeCren, which afterwards became Miles, Archer and Co.'s business, where he worked himself ' up to *be head storeman, and was universally respected by all who did business with the firm. He remafned in the firm's employ for 'V 2 years, when the business was wound up. He then entered into business on his own account as; a grocer, which he worked for eight years, and then had to retire owing to ill-health. Mr Clarke leaves a family of four daughters- and one son, the daughters. being Mrs H. B. Courtis, of Dunedin, Mrs G. Watts, and Mrs A.' R. Rule, of Timaru, and Mrs Charles Brown, of Ashburton, and the son. Dr. R. E. Clark*, of Birmingham, England. His wife predeceased him by 10J years.