FUNERAL AT HOWICK.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 233, 2 October 1929, Page 3

FUNERAL AT HOWICK.

» LATE MR. JOHN NICHOLAS. LAST OF THE PIONEERS. Mr. John Nicholas, whose funeral took place at Howick yesterday afternoon, was the last of the Howick pioneers. There was a large attendance of residents of Howick and Paparoa districts. The Rev. H. Mason conducted a short service at Mr. Nicholas' late residence at Paparoa before the cortege left. j Services were held also at the Howick Anglican Church and at the graveside. One of the wreaths was made of tulip flowers, from a tree planted by Mr. Nicholas' mother at Paparoa 82 years ago. At that time Mr. Nicholas was six years of age. He had a very clear memory of Howick of the early days, when there was no proper communication with Auckland. The early settlers of the district used to walk to and fro between Howick and Auckland, ferrying the Tamaki River near its mouth and then following a route between there and St. John's College. Beyond the fact that he had been considerably deaf for a number of years, Mr. Nicholas retained his faculties right to the end and could speak interestingly of the early days of his district.