OBITUARY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 July 1924, Page 4

OBITUARY.

MR, JAS. STEVENSON, PIHAMA. One of the old band of pioneers of the Dominion passed uAvay yesterday in the person of Mr. Jas. Stevenson, a. colonist of sixty-one years’ standing and a Taranaki settler of over fifty years. He Avas born in Paisley, Scotland, on March 6, 1837, and came first to Invercargill in 1863 in the sailing ship Sir William Ayre, and after doing railway contract AA’ork and taking part in the Gabriel Gully mining rush, he Avent to Wanganui in 1866 and at once took up army contracting. At one time he' had 160 drays Avorking botAveen Hawera and Parihaka, and had the contract for rations to the A.C.’s at Parihaka,. He later took up farming at HaAvera, then at Rahotu, and later, thirty-four years ago, took up the place at Pihama, Avhere lie had resided until his death. During his active life he was always- a contractor, and did much of the Avork of roading between Hawera and Nerv Plymouth. As an agriculturist he OAvned the first threshing machines in Taranaki. He took a keen interest in dairying, and Avas one of the initiators of the Pihama Dairy Company, the first chairmian, holding that office for twenty years till age compelled him to relinquish the post. He took his full share of public life, and was on road board, county council and NeAv Plymouth Harbour Board, and avus on each a leading figure, owing to his great personality, Fifty-tAvo years ago he married Miss Mary Sweeney, of Huwera, and they had a family of ten, eight of whom, with - Mrs. Stevenson, haA r e suiwiAmd him. The daughters are Mrs. Steu’art (Rotorua), Airs. Murphy (Auckland), Mrs. Lowry (Hunterville), Miss A. StCA-enson (Pihama); and the sons, Messrs. J. F. (Manala), A. H., J. A. and A. R„ (Pihama). The late Mrs'. H'. D. Forsyth Avas also a daughter, and one son, Mr. W. L. Stevenson, died on active service. Air. Stevenson had reached the great age of 87 years, and though he had been failing for some ten years, lie Avas obliged to lay aside only some six months ago. At the end he passed aivay quite peacefully. His AvidoAV and family will have the deep sympathy of many friends in their great loss.