HAWERA PIONEER PASSES

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 17 August 1931, Page 4

HAWERA PIONEER PASSES

DEATH OF MR. H. K. WHITTINGTON. OVER. FIFTY YEARS IN DISTRICT

An olcl and highly respected -settle, of Hawera whose life and work were closely- associated with the history and progress of the town, Mr. Hugh Knight YVhittington, died on Saturday evening at bis home on the Glover Road, after an illness extending over fifteen months. He was aged 78 years. Up till the period of illness mentioned he had been in < good health and it is only; a few years since he retired from active work.

Mr. Whittington was born at Coates, in Sussex, in 1853 and came to NewZealand in 1875 in the sailing ship “Hindustan” and settled in Wanganui where he was employed, for three yeans. After a period of two years in Wellington, he came to Hawera in March. 1880, and commenced business ou his own account. As a bricklaying contractor he was associated with the leading builders of the town in the erection of many of the largest buildings in the town and district, including St Mary’s Church and St. James’ at Mokoia.

Throughout his long residence, here, Mr. Whittington took a prominent part in public affairs. He was one of the early members of the Hawera ■school committee and for over twenty years was a borough councillor and was twice elected mayor of the town in 1911 and in 1914. He was also prominent in fire brigade affairs for eight years, for three of which he was superintendent. Mr. Whittington was associated closely with the Friendly Societies of Hawera, being the oldest member of the Oddfellow® Lodge and, four times District Grand Master. He was also an old member of the Foresters’ Lodge and of the Masonic Lodge. His first- home in Hawera was iin Wilson Street and he gave a part of his land to enable Surrey Street to he formed.

Eight years ago lie paid a visit to England. Then he and hi® brothers and sisters had a re-union, the average age of the company being over seventy years.

In 1879 Mr. Whittington married Miss Jakeman of Birmingham, England. She pre-deceased him by some ten years. He is survived by a. family of eight—six daughters, Mesdame® W. Hartwell (Wanganui), H. J. Eaves (Inglewood) C. Harvey (Lower Hutt), C. J. MeFadyen (Hawera), Misses W. Whittington (New Plymouth) and A. Whittington (Hawera). and two sons, •Messrs. Hugh Whittington (of Hawera) and Charles Whittington (now a railway inspector in Northern Nigeria). The youngest son, Horace, left with tlie main hotly of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to the Great War and was killed on Gallipoli. The funeral will take place from his late residence to-morrow (Tuesday) at two o’clock for the Hawera cemetery.