OBITUARY

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 3, 19 December 1945, Page 8

OBITUARY

MK H. NEST I/EIGIITON

The death occurred recently of Mr H. Ernest Leigliton, a prominent resident of Lower Hutt. Born in Ipswich, England in 1870, Mr. Leigli ton came to New Zealand in 1887. He worked on the late Mr. E. J. Riddiford's slieep stations, Tora and Tawhiti for eight year and took up land at Otaki in the middle nineties. He returned to England in 1900 and in 1902 married Lucy May Hollis, of Bournemouth. ■ Mr...Leigliton- returned to New Zealand in 1902 and 'set up business as land agent and auctioneer with ollices in Wellington, Petone Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt, and stock yards at Silverstream and Mamvwatu. Ho retained liis love of stock all his life and l'or a number of years owned farms at Te Horo and Levin, as well as at his home at "Riversmead," Lower Hutt. He luid unshakeable optimism regarding the future of Lower Hutt and played a big part in its development. In the early 1900's he was a member of the Lower Hutt Borough Council and was largely responsible for the locating of the recreation ground in its present position (on the late Mr. John Wilkins' farm). The mayor at that time was the late MiwOrton Stevens, who fav-oiii-ed a site at V.I.C. Mr. Leight » i served on the River Board for several years. He was an earnfest Freemason. In the early clays he wai a member of Lodge Otaki and later was a foundation member of vVaiwlietu Lodge (of which he was a Master) and of Lodge Lower Hutt. He'was at one time a member of the Board of General Purposes of Grand Lodge. For many years he was Government assessor for the Wellington Land District and at different times loci.;l body assessor for Lower Hutt Borough Council, and Hutt County Council.