OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 9

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN BILKEY.

A well-known resident of Pukekohe, Mr. John Bilkey, died at Auckland Hospital on Sunday aged 77 years. He was born in Cornwall and caane to New Zealand with his parents in 1864 by the ship Bombay. For some, time the family lived at Onehunga. Mr. Bilkey was prospecting for some years at Thames and went to Pukekohe in 1877. Mr. Bilkey married Miss Helen Meatyard, of Paparata, who survives her husband. There are two sons and three daughters. Mr. Bilkey was a very successful farmer. Five years ago he gave up farming and lived at St. Helier's Bay, later removing to Onehunga.

MRS. W. BLOW.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

PAPAROA, this day.

The interment of Mrs. Blow, wife of Mr. W. Blow, an early Albertland settler, who shared the Matakohe pioneer life, took place at the Matakohe Cemetery in the presence of a large gathering. The Rev. S. M. I. Salt conducted the service. Mrs. Blow was well known and respected in the district, where she had lived fifty years. The last few years of her life she had spent with her daughter, Mrs. Rae, of Mount Eden. She was the third daughter of the late Mr. John Isbister, a well-known leader among the Matakohe settlers. She arrived from England with her parents in the ship Clairmont in 1863, when twelve years of age. Her parents settled at Matakohe in the early 'sixties. She was married in 1870 and took an active part in the social life of the district and also in the Church of England.

Mrs. Blow is survived by five sons and five daughters, sixteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The sons are Messrs. William, Harold, George, Clarence and Reginald Blow, and the daughters Mrs. L. Corbett, of Herekino, Mrs. J. S. Crickett, of Morrinsville, Mrs. A. E. Xeil, of Matakolie and Mrs. M. Rae and Mrs. Griffiths, of Auckland.