OBITUARY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21962, 5 March 1946, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR. JOHN H. DAVIS The death has occurred in Hastings of Mr. John Henry Davis, aged 91, a pioneer linked with the early history of Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne. Mr Davis, who claimed to be the oldest living male resident to have been born of European parents in Hawke's Bay, was the second son of the late Mr. William Davis and stepson of the late Mr. O. Z. Eousfield, at one-.time Government surveyor at Napier. He was born a.t a settlement between Pakowha.i and Farndon on October 16, 1854. He married at Gisborne on December 27, 1879, Maude Cumming Clarke, who predeceased him in May last year. As a young man. Mr. Davis wap for about 15 years supervisor of stock for the la.te Hon. Randall Johns,ton, To Arai station, Gisborne. He later farmed at Kamo, Whangarei, on his own account. From there he returned to Gisborne and became manager of Mr. J. R. Reynolds’ property a.t Tolaga Bay. .He wag also manager of an estate jn the Dannevirke district for .the late Mr. W. 11. Rathbone, and for some years prior to hjs retirement he managed the Kararnu estate for the la.te Mr. J D. Ormond. Mr. Davis was a successful exhibitor at agricultural shows. 1-Ie was also a successful competitor a.t sheep dog trials in the north, and as an accomplished amateur rider won many trophies a.t A. and P. shows. He was a foundation member of .the Hastings Old Folks’ Association. Mr. Davis enjoyed good health until the last few months, and had many vivid recollections of the early days ol Hastings and Napier. He ig survived by one daughter, Mrs. A. Newbery, Hamilton, and two sons, Mr. I. C. Davis, Gisborne, and Mr. L. Davis, Hastings.