OBITUARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 26 November 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR JOHN WOLLAND. For a long period of years a resident of Hamua, and known throughout the Pahiatua district, Mr John Wolland passed away recently. The funeral was one of the largest seen there for some time and the number of floral tributes received was ample evidence of the esteem in which the late gentleman was held. Horn in Devonshire in 1865, Mr Wolland came to New Zealand in the sailing ship Queen Bee at the age of seven years, his parents taking up their residence at Petone. MrWsßHnd’s father then set up a flour mill on the site of the present woollen factory at Petone. He sent - his son to be educated under Mr Willis, whose school was in the I old Blockhouse at Lower Hutt, where I the latter town’s Post Office now I stands. As a young man Mr Wolland helped in the formation of Jackson Street, the main street in Petone, and was afterwards employed by the late Mr J. Cudby in the latter’s coachbuilding works. With the opening up of the Forty Mile Bush in 1892, Mr Wolland joined the original settlers and he remained in the district from then onward. Outstanding athletic ability was one of Mr Wolland’s attributes and he played a prominent part in all sport, particularly running —over both flat and hurdles —his best distance being the 120 yards event. The Sheffield Handicap, held in Feilding, was considered to be the premier event of the year, and Mr Wolland had the honour of winning this in record time. He was one of the foundation members of the Hamua Athletic Society and acted as starter for the club for several years. He was a fine wing three-quarter and played for the first Rugby team formed in Hamua. He was a Bush representative player for many years and in after life was one of the most regular patrons of football in the Bush Union. This year his services to Bush Rugby were recognised when he was made a life member. Mr Wolland was a conscientious farmer and he lent his energies to the service of the Hamua Dairy Company, which he had served in the capacity of a director for the past nine years. He leaves a family of six sons—Messrs C. Wolland (Marima), H. Wolland (Kaiparoro), P., S., D. and J. Wolland—and one daughter, Mrs H. F. Russell (all of Hamua). His sons acted as pallbearers at the funeral. A daughter predeceased him twelve years ago. He is also survived by Mrs Wolland.