OBITUARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 278, 22 October 1934, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR W. G. PEARCE. ESTEEMED COLYTON SETTLER. Following a short illness, the death occurred at Colyton on Saturday of Mr Walter George Pearce, at the age of 77 years, the district thus suffering the loss of another personality who had associations with the pioneering activities of the original settlers, hor over 50 years the late Mr Pearoe had lived in the Colyton district, where he was known as a Christian gentleman of sterling worth, and happily he survived to take part in the jubilee celebrations of the district a few days ago. Born at the Hutt, Mr Pearce accompanied his parents when a child on tne long and historic trek to the Sandon Small Farm Settlement, the Pearce family being one or the original group to settle in that district. The journey by diay up the coast to their new home ° v ® r > Mr Pearce remained at home till he grew to be a young man, when lie joined in the move to the Colyton district, taking up land and residing there ever since. At the school jubilee gathering a fortnight ago, in a reminiscent address, Mr Pearce recalled that he had helped to metal the Spur Road in one of the wettest seasons on record. took the first horse and sledge which ever went up the Taonui Road, and rolled off heavy logs from the fallen bush. There was a forest covering the whole of the country when he first saw it. . . , Besides maintaining an active interest in his own property, Mr Pearce took a leading part in local body affairs and for many years represented the riding in which he lived on the Oroua County Council. He held the office of treasurer to the county and eventually succeeded the late Mr G. C. Wheeler as chairman of the county and was in turn succeeded by Mr H. Durrell, of Cheltenham. Among his chief public interests was that of the promoting of hydro-electric power schemes, and for many years he was an active member of the Mangaliao Hydro-Elec-tric League. In ma.ny other ways Mr Pearce showed an interest in the progress of the district, his efforts whilst chairman of the Mangaone Hall Committee helping towards the erecting or the Colyton Hall. A keen worker in the interests of the Methodist Church, Mr Pearce also did a great deal in this direction and, possessing a pleasing tenor voice, he readily gave of his vocal ability in choral presentations throughout the district. His passing will be deeply regretted, removing as it does a venerable and esteemed figure from the district in the development of which he played a leading partIn addition to his wife, Mr Pearoe leaves a family of three daughters aim one son. The daughters are Mrs H. Tutty (Feilding). Miss L. Pearce (Colyton). Mrs N. Cowan (Aokautere) and the son. Mr N. Pearce, Colyton. Four brothers and two sisters survive their eldest brother, the brothers being Messrs Arthur (Waituna), Leonard (Makino), William and Herman (Sanson)'and the sisters. Mrs F. Thompson (Rongotea) and Miss Pearce (Awaliuri Road).