OBITUARY

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5465, 28 April 1920, Page 5

OBITUARY

DEATH OF MR. >JOHN TOWNLEY

THE “GRAND OLD MAN” OF GISBORNE.

BRIEF REVIEW OF A VERY LENGTHY AND INTERESTING CAREER.

Widespread regret will be felt by uil classes of the community on acquit of the death of Mr. John Townley, the “Grand Old Man”'' ot Gisborne, who passed peacefully away at his residence in Peel Street Jht i 1.30 o’clock last night. Mr. had reached the rrpe old age ol 82 years and during the past few years nis health had been gradually failing. He was at business as usual as late as Wednesday last when he became indisposed. On Sunday, however, he felt well enough to attend the Auzac Memorial Service. Subsequently his strength became greatly diminished and, although it was thought that there was an improvement in his condition yesterday morning, it proved only a temporary rally and he succumbed shortly before midnight. Mr. Townley was born at Warrington, Lancashire, in 1537, and, like many others who emigrated from that county to New Zealand, he quickly made" his mark in his adopted country. Me was the eldest son of the late Mr. Richard Townley. of the English- town mentioned, and was educated at Preston in Lancashire and later at the Church of England school at Manchester. He served his apprenticeship at cabinet-making in Manchester and subsequently worked at Shrewsbury for a few years. In .1803 Mr. Townley and his wife decided to emigrate to Hew Zealand on account of Mr. Townley’s then very indifferent health. Oftentimes recently Mr. Townley was wont to refer to the fact that it was believed, prior to his leaving England, that lie would not reach middle age, and he would add: “And yet now I have joined the octogenarians!” In July 1803 Mr. and Mrs. Townley landed in New Zealand. For close on nine years Mr Townley followed the trade of a carpenter at Napier and then he j joined Mr. Large in business there as furniture manufacturers and house furnishers. Mr. Townley removed to Gisborne in 1873 and had ever since carried on the well-known business which stands on what has since been known as “Townlcy’s Corner.” Whilst a resident of Napier Mr. Townley joined up with the H.B. Volunteers at the time of the Native troubles, and in 1567 was present at the capture of Omaranui Pah, where the Maoris made such a gallant stand .against the Pakeha forces, fin _ the battle Mr. Townley escarped injury, but in narrating his experiences subsequently he admitted having had at least one narrow escape, a bullet having passed quite close to his head.

In 1573, when Mr. and Mrs. Townley took up. their residence in this district, Gisborne had only a _ very small population. “We were," Mr. 5? Townley once related to a representative of this journal, “put ashore in a whaleboat from the steamer llangatira, the landing being amongst the Kaiti rocks. Along we went to wluit was then known as the Argyll Hotel for breakfast, but the proprietor declined to take the cook olf his duties in connection with the preparation of lunch. Hungry, we wandered about, and at last came upon a small hoarding-house and appealed to the ladv in charge for a meal, hut again a similar response. Ultimately we wore her opposition down somewhat and site produced a pot of _ tea and some bread and butter and jam with the remark: ‘Make the best of that, which we did right royally, being glad to get anything. We next set about to look for a place to live in but it was a most difficult task. 1 was contemplating building a A ’ hut when an old settler approached and, seeing my people sitting around on our boxes and other chattels, offered us the use of a room in his house and there we gladly went, llie room was not lined and bad no fireplace; in fact it was hardly worth calling a room at all. But there we lived until we got a better house.’ Mr. Townley will he long remembered for his great record of public service in this district. \\ hen lie first came to Gisborne there was only one local body—the Poverty Pay I Highways Board. On the formation of the Borough of Gisborne lie became one of its first councillors and from 1889 to 1907 lie held the position oChief Magistrate of the town. In the course of his term of office several important works were maugura ed, including a water-supply schemeAir. Townley, as is well known also held office on the Harbor Board foi many years and was its cbannmn „ from 1890 till 1918. During that lengthy period were witnessed many Life jovs and sorrows in connection wit 1 the efforts to establish an inner har--l bor. On his arrival in Gisboine goods could be brought up to the wharf only by small. schooneis oi row-boats from email vessels in the bay. He lived, however, to see harboi development which enabled eien B.M.S. Philomel to come right up to -the wharves and the Takapuna and Araliura conduct a wharf-to-u liair ferry' service between Gisborne an Napier. And then came the Hoods with their heavy silt-bearing deposits and practically the complete ruin the inner harbor works winch M . Townley had fondly hoped would prove of a permanent character. During his term of leadership of the Haibor Board the Maui, it will be reeahed, was acquired. But Mr. Townley could not be depressed and when the report of the recent Harbor Gommission was published, recommending s the construction of an outer harbor, Vb.e remarked: “lb is a grand proposal ’ and this district should go ahead with it.” Mr. Townley also took a very great interest in the local lire Brigade and lie was its. superintendent for very many years. In the early days of the brigade fires were numerous and the fire-fighting appliances very antiquated. Time upon time block after block was burned down. But- before Mr. Townley retired from the superintendency the bnd secured its present water-

supply and modern equipment. Mr. Townley always, reckoned that the best service that he had been able to render the town was as head of its fire brigade ; but the citizens know, that he worked equally as hard in their interests in many other directions. Another public body with which Mr. _ Townley was associated was the Railways League, which was prevented from making great progress owing to the unsympathetic attitude of successive Governments towards the development of the East Coast. Mr. Townley never spared himself when it came to matters of public concern and his philanthrp.y tfall times would alone have endeared lum to the people of this district. All through his lengthy career Mr Townley was noted for uprightness of character. Apart from being fan iliarly known as “The Father of Gisborne” and “The Grand .Old Man of Gisborne” he was oftentimes referred to by old acquaintances as “Honest John.” No better testimonial could he have i c-eived thar that which fell from the lips of lus old friend and former partner, Mr Large, of Napier, on the occasion of the celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Townley*s golden wedding some seven years ago. “He is,” said Mr. Large (referring to Mr, Townley) the best man I ever. met. His generous instincts are always ready to expand. He is a man who I, like all others, remember heartily and deeply. The force of his character is felt in all directions. I have known Mr. Townley since ISSO and (I am glad to he here to testify to liis honor. It will be a long time before any of us meet his equal.” Mr. Tow nicy’s industry, too. was proverbial. and the heavy amount of public work which he transacted in addition to tlio exactions of his own very large and very successful business made ljis fellow-citizens mavvel. Gisborne and the East Coast are much the poorer on account of his demise. Mr. Townley is survived by Mrs. Townley and a grown-up family consisting of Mrs. E. J'. Clirisp, Mrs A. Cuthbert, Miss E. Townley and Mr. Arthur Townley. _ Miss Townley is at present in Napier and has lately been seriously ill. To Mrs. Townley and tiie family will he extended the heartfelt sympathy of a very _ wide circle of friends in their sad bereavement.