OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR. JOSEPH PAYTON. Our Masterton correspondent writes 'Mr. Joseph Payton, one of the oldest and best-respected residents of Masterton, and a journalist of many years' standing, died at liis residence in Victoria Street ..at four o'clock yesterday morning, after a lingering illness. Deceased, who was a native of Birmingham, came to New Zealand in' the year 1865. For some time he followed the profession,of school teacher at Tawa Flat and Pahautanui. He afterwards came to the Wairarapa, where he entered journalism as editor of the Wairarapa ''Standard." Coming" to Masterton early in the 'seventies he established the "Wairarapa Daily" (now the "Wairarapa Daily Times")/ having as partners Messrs. W. F. Ro}'dhouse (now of the "Wairarapa News") and Samuel. He subsequently took Mr. W. M'Kenzie (now of Palmerston North) into partnership. Since about 1886, when Mr. Roydhouse established the "Evening Press" in Wellington, and Mr. M'Kenzie took over the Carterton "Observer" (now the "News"), the deceased has been sole proprietor and editor of the "Wairarapa Daily Times." The late Mr. Payton was a forceful writer, a fair critic, and a close student of public questions. Ho has done much, by the use of his pen, to bring the resources of the Wairarapa into prominence, and has industriously striven to improve the social and material conditions of the township in which he lived so long, and which he loved so well. His devotion to the literary and commercial side of his newspaper did not prevent him taking an active part in local affairs. In the early days ho was an energetic member of the Masterton School Committee, the Masterton Park Trustees, and the Masterton Horticultural and Industrial Society. He wpjs also one of the founders of the Masterton Permanent Investment and Building Society. As au employer, lie was regarded as exemplary, and it may be said as a tribute to his memory that a large number of well-known journalists graduated in his office. Deceased took a personal interest in the welfare of the individual'-members of his staff, and there is now in his employ one man (Mr. P. Hyder) who has for fifteen years served the paper. Others have been on the staff for periods almost as lengthy. In 1892 deceased paid a visit to the Old Country, to recuperate his health, which at that time was impaired, and since that year, and until a few months back, ho had enjoyed very good health. He was twice married; and leaves a grown-up family of two' sons and three daughters.