OBITUARY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 56, Issue 32914, 26 September 1947, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR WALTER F. NORTH DRAPER AND FARMER RESIDENT FOR 35 YEARS Mr Walter Francis North, of Te Aroha road, Paeroa, had died in his 78th year. Over the past 35 years Mr North had been' known in this area as a businessman, farmer, musician and churchman. Born in Kidderminster, England, in 1870, Mr North with his parents left for Australia in 1884. There he was employed by the Clyde Engineering Works, Paramatta, N.S.W. At the age of 25 he married' Miss Millicent Jane Hill, of Grenville, Sydney. About ten years after his marriage he changed his occupation and joined the staff of Mutual Life and Citizens Assurance Company as an agent. In 1908 Mr North was transferred on promotion to New Zealand by the company, being appointed superintendent of the company in the South , Island. Mr North remained in the service of the company for four years, and from there he moved to Paeroa. Settled in Paeroa Mr North began his life in Paeroa as a draper. In 1'912 he bought the business of the late Mr Alfred Tetley, which was in the building now known as the Paeroa Rotary Club rooms. Mr North continued at that business for 14 years, until in 1926 he took up farming at Tirohia. As a farmer Mr North worked at Tirohia for about 13 years. During. ■ that time Mr North was the first clerk of the Tirohia-Rotokohu Drainage 'Board. He was also the district convener for the New Zealand 'Cooperative Dairy Company. About 14 years ago he retired from farming. Interest in Lodge Work Throughout the greater part of his life Mr North was interested in the affairs of the Oddfellows Lodge. He was a member of the Earl Carnarvon Lodge, No. 180 Granville, N.S.W., and the No. 28 M.U.1.0.0.F. He was also an honorary member of the Paeroa Oddfellows Lodge.

Mr North was the president of the Paeroa branch of the St. John Ambulance Association. In 1922 he was •appointed a Justice of the Peace. Music, especially choral work, always held a strong interest for Mr North. In his earlier years he had conducted several large choirs. In Paeroa he was for many years the choirmaster of the Presbyterian church. Mr North was- also an officer of the church.

•He is survived by his wife and two sons, Mr Walter North, of Te Aroha, and Dr. Allan North, of Te Whaiti, Rotorua; and Mesdam.es E. Darby, of Paeroa, and ®. Foster, of Paeroa. There are, eight grandchildren. In 1945 Mr and Mrs North celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their residence in Te Aroha road, Paeroa. MRS RACHEL BROADHURST DEATH IN EIGHTIETH YEAR Mrs Rachel Broadhurst, the mother ®f Mrs M. J. Thomas, of “The Ranch,” Thames road, Paeroa, has died in her eightieth year. Mrs Broadhurst, who was bom' on November 12, 1867, was the second daughter of the late Mr and Mrs G. Fraser, of Auckland. She was married to Mr W. Broadhurst at iSt. Andrew’s church, Auckland on December 8, 1887. She and her husband lived in Christchurch until the time of Mr Broadhurst’s death in 1917. After that Mrs Broadhurst lived with her daughter, Mrs Thomas'. Mrs Broadhurst is survived by two daughters, Miss Phyllis Broadhurst, of Christchurch' and 'Mrs M. J. Thomas, of. Paeroa, and a son, Mr F. Broadhurst, v> of Sacramento, U.S.A.