OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 111, 10 May 1916, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR. W. A. GRAHAM -rrr(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. One of Waikato's oldest and most respected residents died at Hnmilton yesterday, in tho person of Mr. William Australia Graham, at the age of 74. Mr. Graham was born in Auckland in 1841, being the third son of the late Mr. George Graham. He received his early education in his native city, but later proceeded to England, where he completed his studies at Windsor and Exeter, returning to New Zealand in 1854. He entered the Government service as a surveyor, and had assigned to him the laying out of Hamilton East. In 1805 hie father, who was an officer in the Engineers, was instructed by the authorities to endeavour to get into communication with William Thompson (Tamehana). the "King Maker," with a view to inducing him to surrender to the British, and thus terminate the Waikato war. Mr. XV. A. Graham accompanied his father on this mission, the late Captain Steele and the late Mr. W. L. C. Williams also being of the party. The negotiations, which were conducted at The Narrows Redoubt, resulted in the surrender of Tamehana to General Carey. Mr. W. A. Graham later farmed at Tamahere for some years, and in 187:t wag elected to represent Walkato on the Provincial Council, remaining a member until the abolition of that body three years later. Since the 80's Mr. Graham and his family have resided at "The Lodge." on the" banks of the Waikato at Hamilton. Ho was Mayor of the borough from 1884 till 1887, and secured for the town an area of 120 acres as endowments, the revenue from which is an important item in the borough receipts to-day. He was largely responsible for the •establishment of the Waikato Hospital. He was enthusiastic for the introduction of the sugar beet industry in New Zealand, and the information which he compiled and the booklets he wrote on the subject will be of the greatest value if at any future data the industry is seriously entered into. He wns the possessor of many presents from prominent natives, by whom he was looked upon as an earnest friend. For many months he was in failing health, though up till a few dav-B ago he was Ecen about town. He passed away in his sleep about noon yesterday.

MR. JOHN TCRNBCLL. On Sunday morning Mr. John Turnbull, who was known as the "Father of Morrinsville,"' passed peacefully away at his residence there at the ripe "age of 82. Deceased was born in Scotland in 183-4, and came to Xew Zealand in the ship Gertrude in 1803, at the time that the Maoris were giving the colonial authorities a good deal of trouble, and he joined tho militia, serving throughout the war. He first settled in Howick, but in 1874— eleven years after his arrival in New Zealand—he removed to the Waikato. to take over the management of Mr. James Taylor's property at Kiwitahi. which comprised some 20,000 acres. Deceased remained in Kiwitahi managing the estate for about 25 years, during which he experienced the hardships common to all the early settlers in the Dominion. At the expiration of that time he leased a place of COO acres between Kiwitahi and Morrinsville, his homestead being the house at present occupied by Mr. J. Tuwhenua, remaining there until the expiration of the lease, when he removed to the house in Morrinsville where he passed away. Deceased was one of the first members of the Waitoa Road Board. Deceased leaves a widow and six children —Mrs. Marshall and Miss Tnrnbull (Morrir_rville), Mrs. Butler (Mercer), Mr. P. Turnbnll (OUhuhu), Mr. W. Turnbull (Glsborne), and one son in Queensland. TheTe are, in addition, 11 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.