OBITUARY

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

OBITUARY

MR JOHN ERNEST WILD LIFETIME OF SERVICE CAME FROM PIONEER STOCK Almost a lifetime of service to Te Aroha town and district ended , on Sunday when the death occurred at his home in Shakespeare street, Ruakaka, Te Aroha, of Mr John Ernest Wild, states the “Te Aroha News.”

Mr Wild, who was a master painter, came from pioneer stock, being the fourth s'on of the late Constable Frederick A. (“Jonathan”) 1 and Mrs Blanche Wild.**Constable Wild, belonged to the Second Waikato Militia Regiment and was’ later constable in charge of Te Aroha many years. Mr J. E. Wild, who was born in Hamilton and educated at Te Aroha School, served his apprenticeship with the late Mr Charles (Blomfield, artist and decorator, of Auckland, and has 'been in business in Te Aroha as a master painter for the past thirty-five years. Work for School .An active citizen in very respect, Mr Wild took particular interest in the welfare of the Te Aroha School. He was a member of the School Committee for fourteen years, ten of which he was chairman. He was a prime mover in the erection of the new Primary School, which was opened as recently as 1936, and replaced the 53-year-old structure then in use. Later he was a mainstay of the move for the Assembly Hall (which object was attained with the help of the Queen Carnival) and the new infant department.

It might 'be said’ that he had the interests of school children always

at heart. So much was this so that Te Aroha was one of the first schools in the district to distribute free milk in schools. This move also received Mr Wild’s strong- support, and it is probable that the effort in this direction helped to bring about the national distribution of milk which now taktes place in schools.

Civic Positions

Civic positions held by Mr Wild included, terms as chairman of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce. Always an active member of this body, Mr Wild took up his chairmanship enthusiastically and conducted a personal canvass for members. It was his firm belief that the Chamber should be a method of bringing the interests of the town anc. country together, and in his day there were a great number of active country members.

Successfully contesting a by-elect-ion rendered necessary last July by the transfer of Mr R. A. Wilcox to New Plymouth, he became a Borough Councillor and took an active part in municipal deliberations until he was overtaken by ill-health.

Art Collection Mooted

Probably the most outstanding discussion brought up at Council meetings by Mr Wild j,was the suggestion that an art gallery ibe formcontinued in Previous Column) .