OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 107, 2 November 1923, Page 5

OBITUARY

KEY. A. 0. WILLIAMS.

. The Rev. A. O. Williams, of Wanganui, passed away on Wednesday morning at a private hospital, to which he was recently admitted. The deceased gentleman up till about three weeks ago enjoyed good health, and was taken suddenly ill at Palmerston North. He was held in the highest esteem by every section of the community, for bis kindly spirit and broad-minded views, and he will be greatly missed in Wanganui and district, states the "Chronicle." Deceased was a son of Judge Williams, of the Native Land Court, Auckland, and a grandson -of Archdeacon Henry Williams^^wlio". aEriVsoTan INew Zealan3 in 1823, and was the- first resident ordained missionary to the Maoris. The'Bev. A. O. Williams was born in the Bay of Islands in 1856, and grew up amongst the' Maoris. ■'• *•He ■ was a great Maori linguist, and had a wonderful influence over the Natives all through his life. He was one of a family of 13, and practically all his boyhood was spent on a farm. Educated at Bishopdale, Nelson, deceased was ordainei in 1880 and was a curate for two years in the .Nelson Anglican Church. In 1882 he was appointed warden o! the Native Theological College in Gisborne, and in 1885 was transferred to Putikj, succeeding tlio Key. A. Grace, and living at Putiki Mission house until 1914. In that year he went to England, and, on returning t?n loo? work am°ng Nthe Maoris till 1921. His death will be deeply deftw m°r g, the Natives throughout ■?wu rth Island ' wbo lo.oked to him with the utmost confidence for help and

The Rev Mr. Williams had a very strenuous life as a young man, and for years did a great deal of travelling by canoe. Four times a year in the old days he canoed to Pipiriki, and travelled veiy much in those arduous days up and down the coast by buggy. . P «,,^h? ,dec! ased re r tired in 1921 from the supenntendency of the mission, but his interest m Native and church work did not relax and for nine months he had charge of the Wanganui Parish during the absence of the Archdeacon . The Rev. A. 0. Williams took a keen wterest in all af f a ir s pertaining ? 0 the welfare of Wanganui. He w as ° truly a cosmopolitan. His name will p £&« best be remembered in connection with the Wanganui Museum. Through his efforts many valuable exhibits wire ob !wrrap^—fi er, and the success of a large number of shows, was largely due to hi^efforts The smcerest sympathy will t,' extend W . « re!atßTes in their sad loS. He