OBITUARY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32897, 18 August 1947, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR WILLIAM FLEMING

PROMINENT ENGINEER

WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSMAN

Mr William Fleming, one of the last of the businessmen associated ■with the early growth of Paeroa, as a centre of an important farming area, died last week. Mr Fleming was 73 years of age. Born in Hamilton, Scotland, in 1874, Mr Fleming was the elder son of the late Mr and Mrs John Fleming. His father was a grain merchant in Hamilton, Scotland. In 1900 Mr Fleming was married in Victoria, Austialia. Six years after his marriage he and his wife came to New Zealand. After spending some years in the Manawatu and Taranaki districts, he came to Paeroa to undertake the position of erecting engineer to the Thames Valley Dairy Company. It was from his. position and work with that company that Mr Fleming became well-known to farmers in all parts of the Hauraki Plains and the Thames Valley. In many of the factories at present producing in the district, and several which have now gone out of existence, Mr Fleming installed the plant and machinery. The engineering side of the cheese factories at Netherton, Wharepoa, Huirau road, and. Shelley Beach (Wharepoa), the butter factory at Ngatea, and the dried milk factory at Waitoa all came under Mr Fleming’s supervision. It is not as an engineer, however, that Mr Fleming is now generally remembered, but rather as a straightdealing and popular farming equipment and hardwareman. Mr Fleming began his business in Paeroa when the Thames Valley Dairy Company amalgamated with the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. A quality that was greatly appreciated by all in Mr Fleming was his business integrity. Throughout all this district it was known that Mr Fleming would not “ sell ” his customers .anything. He was a man of direct approach and at the same time a colourful personality with ready wit and repartee. He had a rare capacity for friendship and many friends. In. his younger days Mr Fleming supported and was an active member of many of the clubs and institutions in the district. In later years he curtailed his activities but to the time of his death he remained patron of the Kerepeehi Picnic Racing and Sports -Club. He was generous in his support of charitable, sporting and patriotic organisations and could always be relied on for practical assistance when -required. Within the past 20 years Mr Fleming had made two trips to Scotland to visit his native town.

Mr Fleming is survived by two sons, Messrs Jack and Duncan Fleming of Paeroa, and two daughters, Mis S. J. Hedge of Paeroa, and Mrs C. Page of Tauranga. There are five grand children. ' Mr Fleming’s wife died "three years ago. He is also survived ■by one brother and two sisters.

MR ANGUS McMILLAN

FORMER PLAINS FARMER

Mr Angus McMillan, of Whangaiei, a descendant of the Nova Scotian settlers at Waipu, has died, aged 81

years. His parents came from Nova Scotia in the ship Ellen Lewis and Mr Mc?Millan, who was born at Waipu, spent his early life in that district. Later he was farming in the Mangakahia and Hauraki Plains districts. Returning North, he took up a farm at Parakao. He retired eight years ago to live in Whangarei. He is survived by his wife and a grown-up family.