WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3225, 31 October 1881, Page 2

WAIROA.

(rROM OUR OWN COERESPONDBHT.) October 28th, 1881. The result of the sale of absentee's sections on Monday is generally considered and undoubtedly must be regarded as a success in every point of view, and a Bignal triumph aver absenteeism-— the curse -of this, "and indeed every, country. While the attendance could nrit\ be considered large, the gathering represented every monied man in the district. The total rates and charges due on the lands as advertised prior to tbe day of sale amounted to but £39 9s. Id, and the proceeds amounted to £401 15s (not to , £372 5s as wired), so tbat by this proceeding the local body has obtained bona fide purchasers and ratepayers (no speculators mind), the owners have had their properties sold at a fair price, and the surplus proceeds paid into the bands of the Publio Trustee in trust for them, and the evils of absenteeism on a small scale are completely nullified. .-, Since I last wrote you, Death with his keen sickle has been amongst us, and carried off, at the early age of 23 years, Mr Frank Davis, junior partner with Mr John Large in the proprietary of the Wairoa Guardian. Deceased, who has been affected with tuberculosis for the last .nine months, was very well known in the district, and generally liked by all, who knew bim. He was instrumental, awith Mr John Davis, in starting the Wairoa Free Press, which was the first country journal in Hawke's Bay; and worked on it as manager for several years, till the paper collapsed the winter before last. Mr Davis then entered into business with Mr Large, in the Guardian, and was a partner in it till his death; 'Nine months ago. the fell disease, which has now laid him so low, showed itself, and he was sent to the Napier Hospital for medical attendance ; notwithstanding / tha unremitting care and attention ofi Dr. Menzies arid" the : visiting medical staff, his cure was pronounced hopeless, and he soon returned to r his home and friends, lingering out many . months in pain and suffering, from which he was happily released at 3.30 o'clock on Wednesday morning last, pas»ing away without a struggle. The funeral took place at 2.30 on Thursday afternoon, t The service for the dead peculiar to the Society of Foresters, of which deceased was a member,- was read at his residence by Mr George Flint ere the remains were hidden from view. The coffin, as a special mark of respect, was borne some distance from the house by four Past Chief Rangers of the Order of Foresters, four other members of the fraternity acting as pall bearers.-.•■■; The Foresters, in regalia, marched behind the coffin, followed by the chief mourner and employes of the firm, the rear being brought up with a large concourse of the settlers wbo bad assembled to do the last sad honor to the departed. Altogether there were about 170 persons present, the largest number that I have seen assembled for that purpose these many years. On arrival at the cemetery the order was adopted as at the start; the beautiful service of the Church of England was performed by the Revs. J. S. Hill and W. Goodyear, C. M. S. His last " take " has been given him, " set," and tbe "copy" banded to the Master for revision ; his " form " is laid on its % cold " bed," and "locked up" till the Last Day, when the "Chief" of the "Chapel" above shall look for the "proof," evenly "adjusted," and all errors "corrected."