OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1937, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR. JOHN KILMISTER

A CENTENARIAN

After attaining' the age of 101 years, Mr. John Kilmister, of 23 Cottleville Terrace, Thorndon, died 'at his' residence yesterday. Practically all his life was spent in Wellington, excepting for a little time which he spent in the South Island, at Kaikoura and Gabriel's Gully during the gold rush. Born at Bath, England, on July 14, 1836, he arrived in New Zealand with his parents in 1841 by the ship Lady Nugent.

The first home of the Kilmister family was a hut at the top of Bolton Street. His father took an active part in the pioneer settlement of the Wellington district, pit-sawed the timber for, the first house in Khandallah, and assisted in completing the road between Johnsonville and Porirua. The family shifted to the Hutt, and subsequently built a house on a section of land on what is now called The Terrace. Mr. Kilmister's most vivid recollection of the Hutt Valley when his people lived there was the .floods. The whare they lived in had biuiks built in well above the ground level, and there was always a large iron pot in which dry wood was kept in case of emergency. He remembered his father having to light a fire there to boil the billy when there was two or three feet of water in the whare.

The Kilmisters later moved to a [section of land at Porirua, and then to a farm on the Tinakori Hills, near where the .wireless, station is now., Mr. Kilmister's father was one of the first to start making the road from Wellington to Karori,.and he and his brother

t took part in making a road through Wadestown. Subsequently John Kilmister bought at, farm at Karori. He married Sarah Anne Judd, and they arid their family lived on this farm for many years—until their, eldest boys were able' to take over the property. His wife, who died in 1931 at the age of, 88 years, was a member of a fam- . ily who, arrived in New Zealand; in 1840. . She had a sister, who was believed to ! have .been 'the first white ' girl born in Wellington. Mr. Kilmisi ter's father' and mother died on the I same day in 1904—his father then : being.96 years of age and his mother : 94.g : . Many stories of early Wellington , were told by Mr. Kilmister. When the ■ family flyst caftie here, there were Maori pas at Te Aro, Thorndon, and at . Kaiwarra; He was twelve years of ■ age when the earthquake of 1848 occur- , red. He stated that he, was playing ' marbles at the time, and was surprised to see them rolling about the ground. , When the family shifted to the Hutt . the Natives helped'tliem to build their . home. On their'removal back to Wellington the timber for the new house , was rafted down the Hutt River and ; across the harbour. The earthquake i of 1855, he stated, started at about 9 o'clock at night ■ and occasional shakes ; occurred for some days. Mr. Kilmister's life in the early days was a hard one, but he looked after himself. It was his proud claim that he was not a drinking man, had never smokedi and had'always eaten a little less than he felt able:to eat. Last year, when he reached his century, he. was the recipient of congratulatory messages from his,' Majesty tlje King, the Governor-General,' the Prime Minister, the Mayor of Wellington, the Minister of Finance, and many others. The interment will be" private. MR. ALFRED REEVE (Bj Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON, October 11. The death has occurred at Nelson of Mr. Alfred Reeve,, who, until last week, was a resident of Milford, : Auckland, where he was held in very high esteem. He was a licentiate of Dental Surgery of the Royal College ! of Surgeons, London, and practised j , yi London and Sunnydale l until his arrival in New. Zealand 16 years ago, when he carried on practice until 1930. In his earlier years at Milford, J Mr. Reeve, who was a keen golfer, ! took an active part in the develop* ! ment of the Pukuke golf links. He later joined the' Takapuna Bowling ; Club. He was a vestryman of the Milford. Church. In England he took an active part in Free Masonry. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. F. Merton, Millhill, London, and Mrs. T. A. Johnston, Nelson. MR. DUDLEY R., EDWARDS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NELSON, This Day. The death occurred today of Mr. Dudlpy. R. Edwards, of • the firm of Messrs. F. and D. Edwards, well known in insurance and business circles. He was a. director of the Anchor' Shipping Company, a past' city ', councillor, and a member of the Rotary Club. ! MR. J. A. SIMS Mr. J. A. Sims, who was for • many years in ■ business 1 in Wellington as a binding contractor, died last week. Mr. Sims was born, in Inverness, Scotland, and although. of a retiring disposition, ; was very - popular. He belonged to the Masonic, order, and was a member of Comet Lodge, Barcaldine, Queensland. The services/at the chapel and at the crematorium were conducted by the Rev. W. Gilmour, of the: Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church. The pallbearers were Messrs. .G. T. Arthur. C Clark, L. H. Alien, t C. Mummic, R. Flelt, 'and'P. Tracy. ' Among' those present were representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association, the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, and 4he: Wellington Working-men'*-Club. „