OBITUARY,

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXV, Issue 12913, 15 July 1936, Page 4

OBITUARY,

' MR GEORGE BROWN OMAN LENGTHY. CAREER IN HOTEL business ends. * > >1 By the death of Mr George Brown Oman, licensee of the Masonic Hotel, the town and district yesterday lost one of its most highly respected and most useful citizens. Some months ago, Mr Oman had the misfortune to suffer a hip injury and, recently, pneumonia supervened, the end coming peacefully at 2.15 p.m. yesterday. Mr Oman wgs connected with the hotel business in this district for close on 40 years and was an outstanding personality in the trade. His invariable courtesy and thoughtfulness for others earned for him a host of fi iends and it could always be said n’ him that his word was his bond. Not the least conspicuous aspect of his fine character was his charitableness, which was displayed in a most unostentatious manner. *

Born in Swansea (Wales), Mr Oman came out to the Dominion with his mother and step-father. Mr and Mrs Henry Uacche, who settled in Gisborne in 1874. He first went to work for the late Mr John Townley and, subsequently he was apprenticed fa tho carpentering trade with the late /Mr W. 0. Sheet.

In 1898, Mr Oman took over the Muriwai hotel and store. Three years later, he bought the Waipiro Bay hotel and store, subsequently selling our t.(> the late Mr J. F. Pettie. Next he bought the Wbatatutu hotel and store which he leased after conducting them for about three years. About tins time the old Argyll hotel was destroyed by lire and in its place the Coronation Hotel was built and Mr Oman took it over. For the late Mr J. A. Harding, he then managed the Masonic Hotel for a time and later relieved the late /Mr J. H. Martin attire Gisborne Hotel when Mr Martin went for a trip Home. In turn. Air Oman conducted the Wairoa Hotel fo • about a year. I lien lie took the British Empire Hotel which he conducted for two or three years. When later on lie bought the freehold he again conducted it for several years. In due course, he leased it for a term but re-entered into occupation, lor the past four years, he had conducted the Masonic Hotel in his customaiv exeinplary manner. Air Oman was closely identified with various branches of sport in this district, and, in particular, racing. lie was a member of the committee of the now defunct Gisborne Racing Club and also of the Poverty Bay Turf CluuAs an owner he and Air D. -T. Barry raced very successfully for about 20 Years. Their most notable victor-es were the triumphs of Aledallius in thn U..T.C. Grand National Hurdles in 1904 and of Pciisano in the same event in 1910. In addition, they won many events of lesser importance. In civic and all other matters appertaining to the welfare of the town and district, Air Oman was prominent. He served for a number of years on the Gisborne Borough Council and on Cook Hospital Board. During the Great War he assisted in numerous patriotic movements, especially the memorable Queen Carnival, when he afforded Aliss Taylor’s candidature generous help. He also old good repatriation work. He was a Freemason, being a member of Lodge

Turanganui. In 1800. the late Mr Oman married Miss K. Wren, of Auckland. Widespread sympathy will be extended to Mrs Oman and the members of the family—Mrs Morley and Miss Cca Oman and Messrs. Milton and Janies Oman—and to his brother Mr W. B. Oman and to Mrs Ben Taylor and Mr Albert Hacehe. step-sister and stepbrother respectively. Tho funeral will leave Holy Trinity Church at 2.30 p-m. to-day for Taruheru Cemetery. GISBORNE’S LOSS MAYOR’S TRIBUTE TO MR OMAN Reference to the death of.Mr Oman was made by the'Mayor, before formal business commenced at the sitting of the Borough Council last evening. Mr Coleman said that that afternoon they had heard the sad news that an old resident of Gisborne, Mr G. B. Oman, bad passed on. For many years Mr Oman took an active part in the welfare of the district. When the speaker came on to the council with Cr. DeCosla many years ago,. Mr Oman v was a,>councillor. The speaker and Cr. DeCosta. had. satwith Mr Oman for a number of years. They looked tipon him as a real Shod councillor. He was not. prominent and only gave"a studied opinion. He \ya>s highly respected by every member of the council. Later on the speaker had the privilege oF sitting with Mr Oman on the Hospital Board and there his opinion was very highly re'spected. Gisborne to-day was the poorer through the passing-on of one 4>f its prominent citizens. On the motion of the sjjeaker a. vote was passed in the usual way, expressing: condolence with the widow and* family. .