FINE OLD GENTLEMAN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3139, 8 July 1942, Page 7

FINE OLD GENTLEMAN

LATE MR E. T. DONOVAN

SON OF PIONEER FAMILY The Whenuakite district has suffered the loss of a kindly old gentleman in the death of Mr E. T. Donovan, whose residence in the district has covered a period of ten years. Though suffering- indifferent health for the whole time of his residence he smiled his way through to a place of love and respect in the hearts of all who knew him. Born at Thames ?on April 8, 1881, he was the third son of the late Mr Thomas Donovan, one of the earliest settlers in Thames and a prominent personality in the building trade. The late Mr Donovan was one of a family of six, four brothers, Mr J. Donovan, Mr W. Donovan, Mr A. Donovan, of Wellington, and Mr C. S. Donovan, Thames, and one sister, the late Mrs E. Holmes.

At the conclusion of his training at the Kaueranga School, the late Mr E. T. Donovan was appointed to the building trade under his father. After a period of service in the Waihi district he joined the New

Further Coromandel news will be found on page 6.

Zealand Railways as carpenter and served in the King Country and on the Whangarei section.

In 1906 he married Miss J. E. Holmes, youngest daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Richard Holmes, of Rama Rama. For 14 years he resided in Auckland, and for many years gave devoted, service as deacon and Sunday school teacher at both the Mt. Eden and Grange road Baptist Churches. In .May, 1920, with his wife and family, he returned to Thames, where he took up the building trade on his own account and has to his credit some of the finest residences of that district.

He is survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters, Corporal Edgar Donovan, Lieutenant William Donovan and Mr Geoffrey and Mr Allan Donovan, of Whenuakite and Mr£ F. R. Donkin, Thames, and Mrs D. W. Hamilton, Hikuai. There are three grandchildren.