OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 300, 19 September 1928, Page 6

OBITUARY

JAMES HENRY COLEMAN

The death is announced by a Press Association message from Napier of James Henry Coleman, one of Hawke's Bay’s oldest and most prominent settlers, at the advanced age of 94 years. The late Mr. Coleman was born at Crownthorpe, Norwich, in 1834, and was the son of a farmer. He came to New Zealand in 1859 and entered the service of the late Archdeacon Sam-

uel Williams at Te Auto, where he helped to convert fern-clad hillsides into some of the finest pastoral country in the Dominion. Later, in partnership with Mr. R. Fountain, he took up property at Pakowhai and at Longlands, on disposing of which he joined the late Mr. Alexander McHardy in taking up Blackhead Run, which was also transformed into one of the bestknown breeding studs in the Dominion for Shorthorn cattle and Lincoln sheep. He disposed of his interest to his partner and retired from farming, but always took a deep interest in farming pursuits and in the development of farming throughout the province. He was an exhibitor at the first agricultural show in Hawke's Bay and lived to see the society attain its diamond jubilee two or three years ago. His liberal donations to the Agricultural Society and other similar bodies were large as well as numerous; he donated a very fine ward, known as the Coleman Ward, to Napier Hospital, and a memorial church at Crownthorpe, near Hastings, in memory of his eldest son, Mr. Herbert Coleman, who was killed in the Great War. Mr. Coleman was a most enthusiastic supporter of volunteering, and over a quarter of a century ago he donated a large and handsome shield for competition between rifle teams, and a champion belt for the highest individual score in these matches, besides annually contributing the whole of the prize-money. He also was a. liberal donor to the Napier Soldiers’ Club and soldiers’ memorial fund. Up to within a few weeks of his death he retained his vigour of intellect.to a remarkable degree. His only daughter is Mrs, waiter, wife of Mr. Walter, of the Loudon “Times.” He married the widow of the late James Watt, a prominent business man in the early days, and amongst his step-children are Mrs. T. H. Lowrv and Mr. E. J. Watt. His daughter-in-law, Mrs. Herbert Coleman, is at present in England.