OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 41, 17 January 1929, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MB JOSEPH LIGGINS. We regret to record the death, which took place at an early hour this morning, of an old and highly respected colonist in the person of Mr Joseph Liggins, of Tokomaru. The deceased gentleman had been prominently identified with the district since its settlement many years ago. One of the sturdy pioneers, he had spent his life in agricultural and kindred pursuits, bringing his holding from its virgin condition to a state of high productivity. A very popular and efficient member of local and other bodies before declining health caused his retirement from an active life, Mr Liggins gave valuable assistance and advice in many directions and his passing; will be mourned by a wide circle cf friends.

The late Mr Liggins was born at the small village of Measham, in the Comity of Derby ; England, a year or two before the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny years. In his youth he met many of the survivors of these wars and was always keenly interested in their recitals of their experiences. Educated at the village school under a type of schoolmaster of that time, he held various positions, and, with a vision in his mind of colonial life, he took a course (at what was then a novelty to farming experience) in dairy work, at Lord Vernon’s private dairy factory at Sudbury, Derbyshire. There he fully equipped himself with a knowledge of veterinary work, electricity and magnetism, bacteriology and chemistry. Eventually selecting New Zealand as his goal, with his wife and family of six young children Mr Liggins left England bn board the British King, bound for Wellington. On arrival he became a partner in the firm of David Buick and Co’s dairy factory at Longburn. Travelling in those days was not so convenient as in present times and the passage by coastal steamer from Wellington to Foxton was not the • most pleasurable recollection of Mrs Liggins who had the care of the children on that journey. Soon after his arrival at Longburn Mr Liggins met the late Sir Snelson, who had emigrated from the ancient town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, three miles from Measham, and they often renewed their remembrances of the Old Country. Upon the Manawatu Railway Co. selling land at Tokomaru, Mr Liggins bought; a section and after battling with it, in its then rough condition, he brought it into its present high state of production. Flax of good quality was for some years Ins chief stand-by, but cattle and cultivation were his chief objects. He established the Ashlea herd of Friesians at . about the same time as Mr John Donald commenced with this breed at Westmere. He had varied successes in the show ring, but gave more attention to milk producing qualities in liis animals than in concentrating on exhibiting. As president of the Flaxmiilers’ Association at one period, he gave excellent service to the industry and on his visits Home ho interested himself largely in investigating all possible channels of research in the utilisation of the fibre. He was also intensely interested in the Manawatu A. and P. Association, of which lie was a foundation member and for many years a member' of the committee and a vice-, president. The Makerua Drainage Board had for some years the benefit of his great experience and the success of the work done by the board will be a memorial of the years during which lie was a member and chairman. In the establishment of the dairy factories in the vicinity of Tokomaru he was keenly interested and as member of the board of directors, and at various periods chairman, he did yeoman service to the farming community of the district.

Mrs Liggins and her sons—Charles, Sam, Harry, and Joseph, together with the daughters, Mrs Williams, Mrs Gardner and Mrs Jos. Smith, are left to mourn the loss of their father, and to those the sympathy of a large circle of friends will be extended. The late Mr Liggins had been in indifferent health for the last six months.

mb david McMillan

The death occurred at the Palmerston North Hospital on Monday of Mr David McMillan, of 181 Cook Street. The late Mr McMillan was born at Rakaia, Canterbury, sixty-one years ago and until 1908 was employed on the farm of his father, Mr Donald McMillan, a landowner in Canterbury. In 1908 lie married Miss L. A. Ginn, of Tokomaru, and since that date had been resident in Palmerston North, being on the Borough Council outdoors staff. Mr McMillan

lea'wcs to mourn his passing Mrs McMillan and one adopted son, Leslie, aged nine years. The funeral took place on Tuesday at Kelvin Grove Cemetery, Rev. Mr Donald, of Feilding, performing the last rites.