OBITUARY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 43, 3 February 1936, Page 5

OBITUARY

Mr. Martin Collett

The death occurred at Waipawa on Saturday morning of Mr Martin Collett,, one of the oldest settlers in the Waipawa district, at the advanced age of S' years. On May 27 of last year, Mr and Mrs Collett celebrated their diamond wedding jubilee, having been married in the schoolhouse at Waipukurau in 1875, aud having resided in Waipawa throughout the whole of the 60 years of their married life. Mr Collett came to Waipawa when he was about 20 years of age, and until his retirement was engaged in the blacksmithing and wheelwright trade. The late Mr Collett hud served on the Town Board in the days before the formation of the Waipawa borough, aud had also acted as a churchwarden of St. Peter's parish. Ho had always led a straightforward life and was held in high regard by all sections of the community, and was a very line example of the ideal citizen.

The late Mr Collett was also a very enthusiastic member of the Manchester Unity Oddfellow?, and retained his in terest in lodge work until his death, having been a trustee ot the Loyal Abbotsford Lodge, of which he was a foundation member, for a great number of years. Indeed, to the late Bro. Collett must go the credit for the formation of the Abbotsford Lodge. He was the first Noble Grand of the lodge, which was opened in October, 1873, and was instrumental in having the steps taken utfcessary for the formation of the lodge. He was also prime mover in having lodges opened at Tikokino, Takapau, Waipukurau and Otane, although the Otane lodge was subsequently combined with Waipawa, and the Takapau lodge with Waipukurau. Prior to the opening of Abbotsford Lodge the late Bro. Collett had been a member of the Loyal Rose of the Valley Lodge at Levin, but resigned his membership there when he joined up with Abbotsford. He was District Grand Master of the Hawke’s Bay district in 1883, and his long association with lodge matters and the splendid work done by him in fostering the friendly society movement surely entitles him to the name of “The Grand Old Man of Oddfellows!) ip” in Central Hawke’s Bay. To mourn his loss the late Mr Collett leaves his' widow and three sons, Messrs H. C. Collett, A. A. Collett and E. Col lett, and a number of grandchildren The funeral will take place at Hadley cemetery this afternoon at 2.30 p.m.