OBITUARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 38, 24 November 1938, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR MICHAEL CARNEY. PIONEER IN ASHBURTON GORGE, Mr Michael Carney, of Alford Forest, who died recently at the age of 88, was one of the pioneers of Ashburton County and the Ashburton Gorge. He was probably the last survivor of the early "bullock drivers who carried the wool from the stations, via Spreadeagle and Thompson’s track, on its first stage to the Home markets. He also carted timber from Alford Forest to Longbeach and other down country stations.

The second son of Air and Airs Nicholas Carney, he was horn in Australia in 1850, and ' came as a child with his parents to New Zealand. After a time in Nelson lie set out for Canterbury on foot, as a boy of 12, in company with his father and his elder brother John, who was his partner in many of his later experiences. Air Carney was cowboy' for a. time at Hawkswood Station, later joining his family, his father being at this time employed on Anama Station. About 1865 he went as a youth to Campbell Bros.’ station •at Alesopotamia, where he' spent many years as bullock driver and musterer. At the age of 21 lie married Aliss Alary Quane, and their early married life was spent at Alesopotamia until the necessity for educating their children caused them to settle, about 60 years ago, in the A 1 on lit. Somers and Alford Forest districts. Although his work in this district comprised sheep farming and timber splitting, lie still kept up a seasonal ebnhection with tlie stations as bullock driver, shearer, and musterer, and lie was still -mustering on shingle country till 12 or 13 years ago. Ho then continued to work as shepherd and shetl-haiul till lie was 801 years of ago, till: an operation, which required occasional hospital treatment, caused hist retirement from station work. “Old Mick,” as lie was familiarly known, was made of tough colonial stuff. He can be said to have ser\ed Jus generation, and lias passed oil respected by all those who admire the "resourceful early pioneer spirit. Of. a family of six sons and three daughters, lie is survived by the following:—Mrs G. H. Timpson (Christchurch), Airs F. Chapman (tfowcliffe), Mrs J. Quinn (Tirau, Auckland province), Air W. Carney (Alford (Forest), and Air J. Carney (Hastings). There are also a sister in Christchurch, a brother in the North Island, 26. grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.