OBITUARY

Evening Star, Issue 21073, 9 April 1932, Page 13

OBITUARY

' . MR PHIL!?'PRATLEY Sawyers Bay lost an old and respected resident yesterday by the death of Ms Philip Pratley, in his eighty-fifth yearMr Pratley was born in Ascot, England. His wife accompanied him on the ship Mongol, in which they arrived at Port Chalmers in 1874. They resided for some time after arrival at Mount Pleasant before removing to Sawyers Bay. A vigorous young Englishmanto whom pioneering was a matter or taking part in what was going; Mr, Pratley was never out of employmentand for a time worked in the quarries at Port Chalmers. On one occasion ha experienced the lure of the gold rushAccompanied by Mr J. M'Gregor and Mr W. Groves, he walked overland to the West Coast, where the rush was taking place. The precious metal was less plentiful than rumour had asserted,. and when the rush fizzled out Mr Pratley and his two mates walked back to Sawyers Bay. Mr Pratley afterwards went in for market gardening, and opened a general store, in both of which ho was successful. Healthy and active almost to the end, he was busy in his garden when a week before his death! ho was prostrated by what proved to bo a fatal illness. Mr Pratley lost his first wife, and afterwards married Miss Jane Dooley, of Sawyers Bay. Thero are four surviving daughters (Mrs MCottle, Mrs T. Ball, Mrs R. Willmottand Mrs A.' Sykes) and ono son (Mtj A. Pratley), by tho first marriage,. and two daughters (Mrs P. Walker and Miss Pratley), also one son (Mr JPratley), by the second marriage.