OBITUARY.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVI, Issue 601, 30 December 1904, Page 5

OBITUARY.

Mr William Rathbone passed_away at Waipawa on Saturday morning at twenty minutes past ,11 (writes the Herald's correspondent). He leaves a widow and nine children besides numerous relations and connections by marriage to. lament their loss, and he will also be greatly missed by ; numerous friends all over the colony. He had in his time filled several public positions, as a member of the old Provincial Council, the County Council, and the Town Board, and he was at the time of his demise a member of the Waipawa Road Beard. He was the first postmaster in the town and the first registrar of births, and for some of the earlier years a justice; -of... the peace. His health of late years had been precarij Ous, and for the last few months he j had remained at home, suffering from some form of rheumatism. He held strong views on some things, and had many estimable qualities. He was good to those who were in need of his help, and especially so when j any person in the locality was sorely] pressed by circumstances. The present j writer, who had good opportunities forj knowing, can recall many instance's in J which the deceased gentleman gave assistance, and did not hesitate, when such cases were brought under his hotice v to. act generously. In, some cases he tendered material help voluntarily, and yet The never let his right hand know what his left had done in this way. Many persons will greatly regret his passing. He had been in Waipawa since about 1858, and in business here since 1861 as a merchant, stor ekeeper^- and flockowner, and; was in fact our oldest inhabitant. Mr Rathbone married in 1868 the second daughter df the late Mr Henry Arrow, of Waipawa. He owned lands at Abbotsford; Waipawa, Hampden, Tourere, Makotuku, Piri-piri, Feilding, Napier, and other places. His sons are Mr .H. M. Rathbone. : storekeeper, Waipawa ; MesswW. H.and E. Rathbone, both employed in the sheepf arming industry, and Mr L. C. Rathbone, manager of the Tourere run, near Ormondville, and the ; Piri JPiri run, -near TDanneyirke. Flags were flown at half-mast all over Waipawa on Saturday. The funeral took place yesterday at St. Peter's Cemetery^ Tit was attended Tby about 250 persons, including friends of from 20 to 46 years' standing, Several of whom h'ad= travelled" long distances to be present. The casket was carried to the' grave by six employees of the Abbotsford estate (Messrs Jas. Whyman, «Tas. Hentslcie, W. Young, Jno.Watson, H.' Bone and Jas. Mackie). Some of these had been over 20 years in Mr Rathbone's employ ; Beautiful floral tributes were sent by the shop em-, ployees, the post and telegraph office, I the> cricket club and tEe^Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. The Rev; H. P. Cowx conducted' the funeral -service, and delivered an impressive. address, in . whi6h hie spoke of the deceased. -as a r good father, husband, neighbour and employer. '-J\y.A. ''J ---- T.;7'; y.