OBITUARY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 7601, 21 February 1896, Page 2

OBITUARY.

HENKY STOKES TIFFEN

In L.fit evening'o isXuie a paragraph nppoarad announcing tho tcricus illness of Mr fl. ?:. Tifien, but wo never thought that we should bo upon co t-oon to ohronicla the fact of his deadi. Thw decoa=ed gaatteman pasaed peacefully ft way at hia residence, Tennyson street, nt on a o'clock this morning, death being duo to blood poisoning. lie was attended by his inedioul adviser, Dr. Ofiro, iv conjunction with IV. Bernau, and all that inedicul ekill could suggest was dotio for tho guft'eter, but without avail.

In Mr Tiffen Napier has lost one of its greatest benefactors. His puree was ever open to supply tho wants of the needy, and hia kindly words and cheerful disposition havo on very umny occasions helped to sooth tho troubles of tho distressed. As ohairxnan of tho Charitable Aid Board he found abundance of opportunities in thia direction, and nmoy a poverty-stricken family ben&fitted by his benevolence.

Deceased camo to the colony in IS4I, as a surveyor under engagement to the old New Zealand Company. From Wellington he was amongst the first who made their way across the Bimutaka, and settled in the Wairarapa. 'ihoro he started shoep-farrn-ing pursuits, and was the first to introduce meiino sheep, brought by sailing vessels from New South Wales. Great difficulties were encountered iv those early days in driving the aheep over the JBimutaktis, not to mention tho flooded state of rivers, and marjy interesting reminiscences Mr Tiflen could tell. Some years later he brought the first mob of sheep to Hawhe'd Bay, subsequently leasing an immense trace of land from the natives, but afterwards gave it up, recognising that it was required for closer settleaent, and in its place, in conjunction with MrNorthwood, he secured what are now known as the Fourerere and Homewood estates, acquiring also the Jervoiston estate (Greanmeadows) later. Many persons who settled on these have to thank Mr Xifien for giving them a start in life, and fairly establishing them in their homes.

On the constitution of the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay. Mr Tiffen was appointed Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands, and on resigning from that office he became a member of the Council. From that period up to the time of his death the deceased gentleman has identified himself with the affaire of the different public bodies in Hawke's Bay, and was never behind hand in assisting ths promotion of any proposal likely to benefit the community. He devoted muoh of his time to furthering the cultivation of the sugar beet industry, while the vinory established by him at the Greenmsadows will be a lasting monument to his enterprise. He took considerable trouble in connection with the soheme proposed for layiDg a tramway line from liapier to Taradale, but found that the time was premature for such a work. Deceased was ona of the largest shareholders in the proprietary of ths 11.8. Herald, and also held a seat on the colonial Board of tha North British and Hawke's I Bay Freezing Company (ltd).

Aβ an instance of his charitable disposition, it may be mentioned that the establishment of the Children's Home in Burlington road was almost solely due to the eoergy of Mr Tiflen. He was a staunoh member of tho Church of England, and when the proposal to erect a Cathedral was first mooted, the movement obtained a great fillip by a most liberal donation from Mm, Though twice married, Mr Tifien leaves no family, but he has two brother?, Mr ff. J. Tiffen (of Elmßhill station), L. A. Tiffen, and one sister, Mrs Haseiden_, of Wellington. Yoars may go on, but Time will not obliterate from memory the good deeds which Henry Stokes Tiffen accomplished in Hawke's Bay. Tho funeral of deceased, who was aged 77 years, will take plaoe to-morrow at 2 p.m.