OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 725, 26 January 1910, Page 8

OBITUARY.

CAPTAIN, JOHN MOWLEM: . ■ ; Another Palmerston .identity- has" passed away (says our local correspondent) in. the person of. Captain John Mowlem, who died at his residence; North-hook Terrace, at.;,6/o'clock yesterday - morning,via.- hi 6 seventieth year. The late Captain'Mowlem, whocametoPalmcrston -in. the very early days,.waa.a native;of Swanage; Dor■setshire, and-was born in 1840. Ha. spent his - twelfth - birthday,! in .-India/ .'having been, put to a' seafaring life :at" an.early, ■age,' and "he .'.served .five...years 'in the .Indian trade. After two years on a vessel engaged in oarjTing horses from .the Cape to India :V during: : the ■ Mutiny,! Captain Mowlem V served .as .third, , seoond; - and ;ohief , officei; oh the. Asteropp, tading -to New Zealand, and, when 25."years of- age, became;; master Vof, the Eleotra—a '. vessel which made many trips' to Wellington. In 1869 he-loft-the sea, - arid .'settled at; Wai-nui-o-mata, - where he acquired a large area of land. - Ten;;years ..later,;-having sold": his estate, 'he came" to the Manavsatu, :and-has been closely,.identified .with',that district ever sir.ee.

. Deceased took, a. keen interest in tho early .'progress of the town. ; . For seventen years he.was a director of.the local, building society, and he was. also for 'many years.:chairman ■ of; directors,.of;-.the Palmersfo'n' Sash, and .Door Company! Bedsides -hif.>ther ■'services to-the-town, ;tain'.;Mowleiftir.aS .'a.'TwroughN councillor for two. years; and a.-justice 'of : the peace ■'for* about. 251- years!; ;He':.will .also -be j remembered as. having held, for. about nine years;' the position ; of: coroner,\which offioe he only at'the'commencement 'of. tie. illness Vwhich ' terminated- hie: career.' He married a daughter l of Mr. Hugh Sinclair, of Wainui-o-mata, and-sisterof Mi! Duncan -Sinclair,:.'of'.Palmereton North*. :

7 Besides .Mrs! Mowlem, there, are.'nine surviving ohildren—Messrs. John. Mowlem I Mowlem; (Australia),! ■James'Mowlem ''and...'Hugh I 'Mowlem (Niw Zealaiid); ; '' : ahd' -■ Percy Mowlem (South •Africa), Mrs.' Gordon Elliott (Featherston),. Mrs. Ross (Gisborno), and Hilda and,Vera s Mowlem (Palmerston North).