OBITUARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 211, 19 June 1933, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR THOMAS NORGAN.

THE FIRST ALLENTON SETTLER

The death occurred at an early hour this morning at' his residence, 18 Belt Road, Allenton, ot Mr Thomas Norgan., one of the early residents of Ashburton, and the first man to settle in Allenton. He was a well-known figure in Ashburton, and was highly respectedshy a large number of people in all walks of life, . Mr Norgan was born in Norfolk, Eno-land in 1850, and he came to New Zealand in April, 1875, on.the ship "Glenfern," and resided for six months in Auckland, where he worked before going to Poverty Bay. There he worked for three years before coming to Ashburton in November, 1878. In the following March he went to live in the house where he resided at the time of his death. Mr Norgan was the oldest settler in Allenton. " Mr Norgan's first work in Ashburton was to assist in the digging of the pit to hold the gas tank at the corner of East Street and North East Belt. That was in 1878. When that work was completed he went to work on the hospital, which was a small place m those days, appearing, when completed, like a six-roomed house. Mr Noifgan was employed by Messrs Tuckers, "Limited, for 25 years, and retired 13 or 14 years ago, considering that when he had reached his /oth year he was entitled to a rest. One of Mr Norgan's jobs was to assist with the planting of many of the plantations in the County, il work, he said, only recently, that" was considered by many people in those days to be a sheer waste of,time, energy and monev Those i responsible for the work,' however, had more thought for the future than had those who opposed the work. Mr Norgan always displayed a keen interest in lodge affairs. He had been an Oddfellow since 1577, when he ■joined the MU.1.0.0.F. Order m Poverty Bay. He had occupied all the principal offices of the Lodge and District in Ashburton, and was Provincial Grand Master many years ago. He held the unique record of having been District Examining and Relieving Officer since the formation of the Ashburton District in 1887. He became a member of. the Thistle Masonic Lodge in 1887, He was Master in 1896, Wl in 1901 represented the Lodge 'at a Masonic conference at Norwich. Mr Norgan's wife predeceased him several months ago.