PIGEON BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2086, 11 September 1896, Page 2

PIGEON BAY.

OBITUARY.

Another of, the old Peninsula settlers has gone to his well earned repose in the person of Thomas White, who died at the residence of Mr Innes, Pigeon Bay, on Wednesday last at the advanced age of 87 years. A sketch or Mr' White's career was published in the second edition of " The the Stories of Banks Peninsula"" in 1893. He was an American, bor& in Rhode Island, and went to spa when he was 14. He left England for New Zealand in a whaler called the Timour on the day of the coronation of King William the fourth, one of his shipmates being that old identity William Pimpson. After whaling for some yearfc he settled at Port Levy', where he fiiarried and stopped there till after the arrival of the Flemings in 1&55, but a few years later went to Pigeon Bay, since which time' he led an uneventual life, reating a large family on a small farm. He leaves many children and grandchildren to regret his loss., ,As ; before Btaied a record of his earlier adventures in the stirring days of old will be found in " The Stories of Banks Peninsula."

PRESENTATION TO MR J. LYALL. On Friday evening lapt an enthusiastic

meeting of residents of Pigeon Bay took place in the Main School for the purpose of saying good bye t> Mr James Lyall', and to present him wiih B handsome gold watch. Mr Piloaithly presided, and? by * the way of introdnctioD> said that a few of Mr Lyall's friends, including members of the Road Board, had thought that some* thing should be done to mark their appreciation of hie great services to tbe district-. A committee bad been., formed, which decided on a farewell social, at which Mi* Lyall be presented with a souvenir of Ids stay amongst them. This wae taken up heartily and unanimously by the residents, evidence of which was the large number present that night in spile of the very bad weather tbey lately experienced. After a pong or two, tsa and coffee were served round, with othpr good things aa edible?, by several young- ladien under the nuperintsndance of Mrs Kelly} and every •* one spoke to their neighbour and enjoyed I themselves in a free and easy w^y. After everyone had refreshed the inner man, aud bad sottled in their places, Mr Hay rose to make the presentation. He Raid he had know Mr Lyall from boyhood k and bar) always found him honest and /* upright. Ha was very sorry to part with Mr Lyall, but he believed he was better-* ing himself. He was glad to say Mr Lyall had done very well.- here, and hoped ha *, would prosper in his new home. Mr Lyall first became a member of the Road Board alout 13 years ago, and had been for several years Chairman k As an associate wit'j him on the Board be could assure the meeting that their gu«st had been untiring in hie ssaal for the public welfare, and the time he had' spent could* hardly be calculated by an outsider. Ad-* dressing the gueat of the evening, Mr Hay cor tinued •■ Mr Ly 'I in th* name bf the present uiee an.s of iimny fiiendfL who linve been unable t- attend I havo now v'l-honour to present.you with thia testimoiid. Please accept it as a sight acknowledgement on our pari of your public cervices and of our goodwill toward you. We hope you and your family will loop be spared tn one another, nnd that you wi'l have health and happiness in your new home." The wstch bears the. ing inscription '• Presented to Mr J. Lyall by the retiJen sof Pigeon Bay, ias a memento of I i* leaving the di<trict.'* Handing Mr Lyatl the watch, Mr Hay safr down amid loud applause. Mr Lyall. who spoke under strong emotion, said it was a great trial to leave the place where ho had resided so long and where he had ppent his bett days** Hia wife and family bad been born there and both he and bii wife felt very much having to leave so many old friends. He was leaving sn the interests of hU family. He had spent a good deal of time in the public interests and bad taken a pride in the work. Any loss he might have sua* tamed was immeasurably repaid by the handsome present and the good wishes expressed alone with it: He concluded bywishing all he»th and happiness, and gave a general invitation to bis new home shonld any of the residents at any time be at Dahevirke, (Load applause). About a dozen songs were given during the evening amidst the heartitr-t of good humcur, and a very pleasant gathering was brought to a close about 10 o'clock by ttm ringing of '• Auld Lang Syne." As th» meeing broke op three eheera for Mr Lyall and • He's a jolly good fellow '. were, given right lustily.