OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1930, Page 10

OBITUARY.

' CENTENARIAN'S DEATH; TARANAKI MILITARY SETTLER. (By Telegraph;— Press Association;) NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday. Mr. Thomas Mitton, who died at the Old People's Home, New Plymouth, on January 24, is believed to have teen 105 years of age. He was a military settler in Taranaki, and had been an inmate, of the home on and off for 30 years.

MR. JOHN KRAIGER.

One of the first settlers on Hauraki Plains, Mr. John Kraiger, died at Thames Hospital on January 24, aged 76 years. He arrived•; "from. Germany when very young, and lived many years at... Puhoi. When the Hauraki Plains were opened-ior settlement; Mr. Kraiger took up land, and had an' orchard at Ngatea. He was very popular with all who knew him. He is survived by one daughter, his wife having died many years ago.

MR. GEORGE SIMPKINS.

At the age of 73 years, Mr. George Simpkins died at Taneatua on January 24., H9 first went to the .Whakatane district as a boy, 60 years ago, and during most, of the intervening time has lived in-the country, etorekeepihg and farming. In 1883 he was,..'. elected a member of the Whakatane Road Board, and he was afterwards chairman v for several years. He was also a member of the County Council andthe Licensing Committee., Mr. Simpkins faced « few hrifses at meetings' on the East Coast. He is survived by the following children:—Mr.- J. Simpkins, of Wellington;; Mesdames C.' J. Rogers, of Taneatua; J. L. Ibbotson, of Mount Albei-t, and A. J. Ellery, of Kaikohe.