OBITUARY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 August 1924, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN AVERY. PROMINENT BUSINESS MAN. The death of Mr. John Avery, a well-known resident of . New Plymouth, occurred last night. Mr. Avery, who had been ill for a few weeks, was 75 years of age. Mr. Avery was the eldest son of Mr. William It. Avery, and was born in Coventry, England, in 1849. He was educated in his native city, and commenced his business career as a youth in London, afterwards moving to Paris where he experienced all the vicissitudes of the siege of that city in tlie Eranco-Prussian war and the troublous times of the reign of the Commune, h rom Paris Mr. Avery migrated to New York, where he joined the staff of Messsr Lorillard and Company, manufacturing tobacconists. When, towards the end of 1878 he decided to come to New Zealand, he brought with him a, stock of the then leading brands of tobacco, and these formed his stock-in-trade when he commenced business on his own account m New Plymouth in June of the fol--1 owing year. Mr. Avery’s first place of business was in Brougham Street, and later he moved to more >commodious premises in Devon Street. After l outgrowing one building which Mr Avery and his brother, Tom Avery m Devon Street, they showed their faith in New Plymouth bv erectthe buildings now known as A\eiy s Buildings,. which are at present owned and occupied by Messrs T Avery and Sons. Ltd. Here Mr. John Avery carried on until 1920, when he sold his retail business and transferred his wholesale operations to a warehouse m Currie Street, where the firm of John Avery, Ltd., has since been located.

Mr. Avery earned the affection and esteem of all with whom he came in contact, and his genial smile and openuanuGu liberality towards «ill deserving causes will be remembered. In his younger days he was a prominent figinc boxing circles, the bowline tn'een becoming Ids chief centre of recreation as he advanced in years. In the footoaf I world lie was also a well-known figure, while he was a prominent Freemason and Forester. Mr. Averv is survived_by Mrs Avery, three soils—c.essis fl. J. R. Avery (Mahoenui), p Avei A’ T Plymouth), and L. u. Avery (Wanganui)—and two daugh-tej-s—Mrs. S. Cottier and Mrs. Lewis •Aebster of New Plymouth. His brother Mr Tom Averv, is also in New Plymouth.—News