OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16351, 24 October 1918, Page 7

OBITUARY.

* :— MR THOMAS O'EEEFFE. Mr Thomas O'Keeft'o, who. recently died in Christchurch. was a Maori war veteran. Ho was torn in Limcrick, Ireland, 79 years ago, and educated at the Grammar School there. Ho served ibis time as u compositor, working on somo of tho principal Irish newspapers. In 1861 he arrived in Melbourne, and after one year's stay > there, during which he worked at his trade, left for' Auckland, whero he was employed as a compositor. At this time there was considerable trouble with the Maoris, and when the call came for volunteers to fight them, Mr O'Keeffe responded, and was enrolled in the Military Settlers' Brigade, where he speedily rose to tho rank of Borgeant. He took part in many of the principal fights in the Auckland district, and was later sent to Taranalu, where he further assisted in quelling tho risings. While in this district .he and his family had a very narrow escapo from being included in tho Whitechffs massacre t when Lieutenant Gaseoyne and his wife and family were done to death by the Muoris. Mr O'Keeffe used to tell how, on the advico of a friendly native, he and his three littlo children, one a baby in arms, after vainly urging Lieutenant Gaseoyne to leave, travelled through the bush at night to the nearest military settlement, and how they had to lie down among the scrub, while the armed warriors passed on thoir way to the little outlying settlement where the Gascoynes lived. At tho close of the war, although granted a section by tho Government, Mr O'Keefo decided 10 migrate to Canterbury, and on arrival was placed in charge of tree planting in Hagley Park. Later, ho entered tho servico of tho Christchurch Gas Company, where ho was employed until he retired through an illness from which he never rocovored. Ho leaves a widow, two eons, and seven daughters, twentythree grandchildren, and two greatgrandchildren. Mil W~REID. Mr William Reid, who died at Ashburton yesterday, aged 69 year®, was born in Caithness, Scotland, and when 26 vears of ago came to New Zealand with his parents, in the ship Waikato, landing' at Lyttolton, and going on to /fihburton. Subsequently no removed to I>unedin, but returned to Ashburton in 1879, and entered into partnership as a builder with Mr A. Muir. After 25 yoars the partnership was dissolved, and Mr Reid -went into business on hi* own account. Ho earned put som» large building con tracts in the town, tho principal being the Ashburton Technical School, St. Andrew's Prosbytcrian Church, and oxtensive additions to the Ashburton High School. Ho leaves a widow, a daughter, and a son, who is at present in the firing-line.