THE LATE MR JOHN CHRISTIE

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

THE LATE MR JOHN CHRISTIE

AN EX-EDITOR OF THE “STAR”

“To a few intimate friends he was known for what he really was —a true lover of humanity,” writes “J.T.W.” of the late Mr John Christie, an exeditor of the “Hawera Star,” whose death occurred cn July 3, 1917. “He i.va.s passionately desirious of helping in that great work of all true souls, the upbuilding of life and the widening of effort, for all there is of worth. He was a true cosmopolitan, not only looking for, but also working for that time, as the bard of his native land would have it, ‘when man to man the world o’er shall brothers ho . . . “An intimate association with him for ever a score of years gave me an insight into his ideals, his purposes, not vouched to many. With some men gentleness' appears a weakness; with him it became manly and enobling. To be in his company was like being in the library of the world, ancl every volume unfolding its wealth of knowledge. For he had that, fulness >of knowledge that comes of early .and long continued study of the world’s masterpieces and a rare fluency which, in the company of his friends, found easy vent. Tie was. if one may use the

term, a practical idealist, but evermore wanting the means to make those lofty ideals practicable. The soil wherein he would do his sowing had'' not yet been tilled and lie had not the means to do the tilling. True to the best was, with him, a primary detriment, founded on a perfect reverence for i ruth and .justice. The shackles of convention held him lightly and the g. nuine loan travelled hopefully and iennessly onward. For him, death had no fear, he went on full of work to the end and met the common fate of mankind with a smile. We meet, alas, too few 'of his kind on the road, taking willingly the rut that others might rise, effacing self to secure the full meed of welfare for the race. His large-heartedness and sympathy are with us to-day inspiring us to emulation. We take from him the message and bear it on hopefully—‘‘Work for a fairer future; the future must - work again. That it ..leave for the world its future freer from trouble and pain. We may feel the pangs of the present; but hence a brighter day, Will light for our children’s children i a smoother, happier way.” <