OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 16, 16 July 1910, Page 8

OBITUARY.

• ME. RICHARD HOBBS. A very old and highly-respected Tesident of the Auckland province and city (Mr. Richard Hobbs) was found tiead in his bedroom this morning at hie dwelling, Heme Bay-road. Deceased was in his 78th year, having been born at Hokianga in 1533. He was a son of the late Rev. John Hobbs, the pioneer Wesleyan Missionary, who encouraged •the Rev. Samuel Marsden to come to New Zealand, and followed him. in 1823. Mr. Hobbs was first educated at the school of the Church Missionary Society, Waimate North, under the late Rev. Richard Taylor. Afterwards he was privately instructed by the late Dr. Day. He went with his father to Tasmania at the age of 14 years, where lie learned the drapery business in the house of Messrs. Waterhouse Bros. During his stay in Hobart, Mr. Hobbs joined the volunteers, and became a lieutenant, under Captain Solly. After serving six years in the drapery business, Mr. Hobbs went to the Victorian goldfields, and spent about twelve months at Golden Gully and Friar's Creek. Then he returned to New Zealand, and went back again to Tasmania, where he was married to Miss Waterhouse (daughter of the Rev. John Waterhouse), who died about ten years ago, leaving no issue.

When he came back to Auckland, Mr. Eobbs -was appointed a captain in the militia, and saw active service during the Maori War, -when Otahuhu was marked as the frontier. .He started in business ac a draper in Queen-street, and as far back as 1573 retired on a competency. He then went to the '"Springs," at Pokeno, and became one of the foremost fruitgrowers of the province. Later on he sold out, and returning to town, again conducted a successful drapery business in the premises now occupied by Hessrs. Rushbrook and Bridgnian, to whom he sold out, but retained the freehold of the property.

Mr. Hobbs has had a long and varied public career, having been a member of the Auckland City Council from. 1871 to 1573, when Mr. P. A. Phillips was Mayor. He was a member of the Auckland Education Board for over forty years, under the old provincial system, and also the present Act. As a- matter of fact, it is only a few years since that Mr. Hobbs was a. most useful member of the Education Board in the position of chairman, an office he filled on four separate occasions. Mr. Hobbs also did good service for New Zealand as a member of the House of Representatives during the ten years he represented Franklin and the Bay of Islands. He was elected unopposed for Franklin in IS7B, and for Bay of Islands in 1882. Mr. Hobbs was throughout a consistent supporter of Sir Harry Atkinson.

The deceased's intimate acquaintance with the Maoris made Mr. Hobbs a. very •useful member of the Native Affairs Committee of the House. It was also Mr. Hobbs who introduced the Gaming and Lotteries Act, which was passed to a great extent as the result of his perseverance and determination. Mr. Hobbs also served on the Manukau County Council and Pokeno Road ..Board, and was for many years a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank.

Throughout his life Mr. Hobbs has been closely identified with the Methodist Church. In the old days, when the present S.M. Court was the "Wesleyan Church, of Auckland, Jlrr Hobbs was superintendent of the Sunday School. Subsequently he was for many years a trustee of the Pitt-street Church property, and has, in fact, filled almost every office in the Methodist body that was open to a layman. For thirty years lie was treasurer of the Wesley College at the Three Kings, and within a comparatively recent date he built at Heme Bay a pretty ehxiTch as a memorial to his father, and presented it to the Methodist body, it being, however, held i>v trustees.

During his long and varied career Mr. Hobbs was known as a man of sterling integrity and a very faithful friend. His death is very deeply regretted, especially by those of his very old friends who knew him in the days of their youth. The interment will take place at Purewa next Tuesday, the cortege leaving St. John's Church, Ponsonby, at 10.30 a.m.

Mr. Hobbs had been in failing health for some time past, and under the care of a medical man, his trouble being weakness of the heart. TTi* sudden death was, therefore, not unexpected by his intimate friends.