DEATH OF NONOGENARIAN

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9800, 9 May 1924, Page 2

DEATH OF NONOGENARIAN

JOHN SCOTT BLACK, OF

WAIROA

The ' death occurred on Sunday afternoon at his residence, Lahore street, of a, very old resident of Wairoa, in the person of Mr John Scott Black, senior. Deceased was horn in t!i County of Donegal, Ireland, in 1833. and therefore in his 9lst year. He came out to Australia in 1855, landing at Melbourne. Victoria, residing there for aho lit 10 years, and experiencing all the ups and clowns of early colonial life. Ho then came over to Now Zealand, and spent several years prospecting in the Otago goldfields, afterwards living some years in the Taranaki district during the troublous times with the Maoris. He then came to Napier, and attended the first land sale of Wniroa property. He purchased the . land wheron lie had ever since resided.

This hardy pioneer went through all the times of hardship here during the raids of To Kooti and his ITauTfau warriors, and frequently had to leave his home to seek shelter in the Blockhouse,-which was erected for the safety of the European residents. The late Mr Black was of a quiet, retiring sort of disposition, and did not take much active part in local politics, apart from several years’ membership of the old Town Board. He enjoyed the host of health right up till about 12 months ago, when he had a severe bout of influenza. Since then he had been in indifferent health and gradually got- weaker, passing away peacefully on Sunday afternoon:

.Tip, 1. i' vc*s a family of four sons and one daughter, namely, Messrs Samuel and James (Xuliaka), Andrew and John (Wviiroa) and Miss Catherine Jilardr fWairoa).