FUNERAL OF AN OLD COLONIST

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 40, 16 August 1917, Page 6

FUNERAL OF AN OLD COLONIST

The funeral, largely attended, of the late Mr. E. G. Knight, one of the oldest and most-respected of Wellington's old identities, took place yesterday afternoon at Sydney-street Cemetery. The ■Rev. W. Shirer conducted the service at the graveside. The principal mourners were the widow of deceased and his family of ten. The late Mr. Knight built up_ a good business in Wellington as a sailmaker, and he earned the respect of all who knew him by his absolute shaightness in all his dealings. He was 77 years of age, and had lived for half a century in We'u igton. His father was Captain Job, Knight, of Bristol, and from him Mr. '.Might inherited a deep love of the sea: i He served on various sidling ships as & '.SPaker, and on arrival at Wellington set up business in Lambton-quay, 'on the spot where the Gresham Hotel no- stands. He subsequently opened a '?;■•.>ch business in Customhouse-quay, jvLere the Bank of New Zealand now is. After a time he took the late Mr. W. H. Cook into partnership, the firm trading under the name of Cook and Knight. Mr. Knight took a deep interest in sailormen,. and started a free readingroom for them on Lambton-quay. He was also om of the founders of the V.M.C.A. He went farming in the Mana watu for a time, but losing heavily during the great floods, and in a sailing vessel which was lost on the Manawatu Bar, he returned to Wellington, and recommenced business. He was twice married, and is survived by his second wife and a family of twelve, two of whom are on active service.