FATHER T. W. PRICE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 133, 2 December 1935, Page 13

FATHER T. W. PRICE

Father Thomas Walter Price, who died at Christchurch on Saturday after a short illness, aged 62, came to New Zealand from England in 1899, and his first position was at Eangiora, where he spent twelve months. He was then appointed parish priest at Hawarden, where he showed ability as an organiser and administrator (says the "Christchurch Star-Sun"). During his term there he raised the necessary funds for building a presbytery. He was responsible also for the building of new churches at Cheviot and Hanmer, in addition to enlarging the church at Hawarden. After spending eight years at Hawarden, Father Price was appointed by Bishop Grimes as Administrator of the Catholic Cathedral, Christchurch. There again his ability became at once evident. He enlarged the Bishop's house and brought about extensive improvements to the church grounds. He organised two or three bazaars, raising large sums of money to reduce the indebtedness on the new cathedral, and effected many improvements to the Marist Brothers' schools. Soon after Bishop Brodie took charge, Father Price was appointed parish priest at Methven, in which capacity he showed energy and devotion to duty. He paid off the debt on two convents and on the presbytery. In all he spent nineteen years in the Methven. parish.