A CANTERBURY PIONEER

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3266, 26 October 1928, Page 5

A CANTERBURY PIONEER

DEATH OF MR. P. COMMONS.

5 EARLY ELLESMERE SETTLER.

(Contributed by an Old Friend).

By the death of Mir Patrick Commons, which occurred on Tuesday last at his residence, Grafton street, Linwood, Canterbury has lost another of its early settlers, and one who has watched the development of the Ellesmere ; district since the pioneering days." A native of Limerick, Ireland, the late Mr Commons emigrated to New Zealand over 65 years ago in the ship "The Pride." He went to the West Coast for a period to seek his fortune on the gold diggings,and in the Gab- ' riel's Gully rush,- and held a number of claims at that time. Later, with a number of others, he tramped across to Christehurch, and took part in the construction of the Lyttelton tunnel. After this he came to the Ellesmere district, settling at Irwell for a time, and afterwards removing to Leeston,-where he,resided up till about twenty years ago. Being of 5 an industrious nature, typical of the sturdy pioneers, he took his share in the work of drain and road making and bridge building in the Ellesmere district under the old Road Board.. , He was of a genial and friendly disposition and a lover of sport. A fay-, ourite pastime witfi him was quoits, at which he was a champion player, and the holder of several handsome challenge cups. He was the means of forming a live-Quoits Club at Leeston in the early days. Although he had reached the age of 84, the late Mr Commons enjoyed good health until about two months ago. His principal hobby of late years was gardening, his section at Linwood being a great credit to him. His wife predeceased him nine years ago. The funeral, which took place at the Linwood Cemetery on Thursday, was largely attended, friends being present from as far south as Albury and as far north as Loburn. The members of the family left to mourn their loss are: Sister Theodocia, of the Sisters of the Mission, Ngaruawahia; Mrs P. English, Mrs S. Jameson and Mrs G. Caldwell;'and Messrs John and Patrick Commons, of Christehurch. Requiem Mass was celebrated at the Catholic Cathedral by the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, a feature being the singing by a choir of children from the Convent and the Marist Brothers' School. The Rev. Father McMonogle officiated at the grave. The pall-bear-ers were Messrs S. Jameson, M. Commons, P. Luddy and M. Slattery.

ANOTHER TRIBUTE

A brief but generous tribute comes from Dr. George Gosset, of Sumner, a former resident of Leeston~and an old acquaintance of the late Mr Commons, who, in writing tp the Guardian yesterday, refers to him as "my old friend and neighbour, Pat Commons, one of nature's gentiemen, a man incapable of mean action. Others in Leeston will endorse my sentiments."