OBITUARY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12950, 27 December 1904, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR WILLIAM RATHBONE. Mr William Rathbone passed away at Waipawa on Saturday morning at twenty minutes past U (writes our correspondent). He leaves a widow and nine children besides numerous relatives and connections by marriage to lament their loss, and he will also be greatly missed by numerous friends all over the colony. He had in his time filled several public positions, as a member of the old Provincial Council, the County Council, and the Town Board, and he was at the time of his demise a member of the Waipawa Road Board. He was the first postmaster in the town and the first registrar of births, and for some of the earlier vears a justice of the peace. His health of late years had been precarious, and for the last few mouths he had remained at home, suffering from some form of rheumatism. De held strong views on some things, and had many estimable qualities. He was good to those who were in need of his help, and especially so when any person in the locality was sorely pressed by circumstances. The present writer, who had good oppotunities for knowing, can recall many instances in which the deceased gentleman gavejjssistance, and did not hesitate, when such cases were brought under his notice, to act generously. In some cases he tendered material help voluntarily, and yet he never let his right hand know what his left had done in this way. Many persons will greatly regret his passing. He had been in Waipawa since about 1858, and in business here since 1861 as a merchant, storekeeper, and flockowner, and was in fact our oldest inhabitant. He owned lands at Abbotsford, Waipawa, Hampden, Tourere, Makotuku, Piripiri, Feilding, Napier, and other places. His sons are Mr H. M. Rathbone, stoekeeper, Waipawa; Messrs W. H. and E. Rathbone. both employed in the sheepfarming industry, and Mr L. C. Rathbone, manager of the Tourere run, near Ormondville, and the Piripiri run, near Dannevirke. Flags were flown at half-mast all over Waipawa on Saturday.

The funeral took place yesterday at St. Peter’s Cemetery. It was attended by about 250 persons, including friends of from 20 to 45 years’ standing, several of whom had travelled long distances to be present. The casket was carried to the grave by six employees of the Abbotsford estate (Messrs Jas. Whyman, Jas Hentskie, W. Young, Jno. Watson, H. Bone and Jas. Mackie). Some of these had been over 20 years in Mr Rathbone’s employ. Beautiful floral tributes were sent by the shop employees, the post and telegraph office, the cricket club and the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. The Rev. H. P. Cows conducted the funeral service, and delivered an impressive address, in which he spoke of the deceased as a good father, husband, neighbour and employer.