OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 221, 14 August 1930, Page 6

OBITUARY.

MR GEORGE AVILCOCK. The death occurred yesterday at his residence in Main Street of Mr George AVilcock, aged 87. His demise meant the passing of an old pioneer of the Manawatu and AA’anganui districts. He was well-known in the railway service and had a wide circle of friends. Born in Pontefract, Yorkshire,- England, in 1843, the late Mr AVilcock was educated in that town in the national ?nd secondary schools. He came to New Zealand in 1874 on the ship Edwin Fox, the journey taking five months to accomplish, and a landing was made on Somes Island. From there Mr AA’ilcock took the boat to AVanganui, later moving to Bulls where he was employed by Mr J. Bull at contracting work. Later he joined the Railway Department and received promotion, first to inspector of bridges and buildings and later as foreman of works for the New Plymouth-Foxton-Woodville section, a position which he held until his retirement in 1904. After his retirement he was commissioned by the department to make an inspection of all the New Zealand railways and reconstruct the railway bridge over the Wanganui river. He piloted the first passenger train through the Manawatu Gorge. On leaving the railway service, Mr AA’ilcock went farming at Opunake, in which district he remained for 10 years. He was a foundation member of the Opua Road Dairy Company and the first chairman of directors. He leaves a wife and eight children to mourn their loss. They are: Mr John AA’ilcock (Frankton), Mrs J., H. Gavev (Palmerston North), Mrs A. W. Gibson (Wanganui East), Miss M. J. AA’ilcock (Palmerston North), Mrs AV. Bryant (Levin), Mr Alexander AVilcock (Pihama), Mr Charles AA’ilcock' (AVarea). There are 35 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.