Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 2

Obituary

FIFTY YEARS IN PAHIATUA THE LATE MR. R. HATHAWAY An association of fifty years with Pahiatua was terminated on Sunday, May 30, when Mr. Ben Hathaway passed away after a brief illness. Mr. Hathaway was born at Dean Forest, Gloucestershire, England, in 1859 and spent his boyhood in East Oxford, Canterbury, where he wont to school with several who afterwards o ame to reside in Pahiatua. He came out to New Zealand when a small boy with his parents in the ship Brother's Pride and in 1887 visited Pahiatua, coming to reside here permanently in 1889. His first job was bush-felling and he was employed by Mr. H. Sed cole to carry out work of this nature on the site of tho sadeyards and where the District High School now stands. He carried out similar work in Wakeman street for Mr. Toswill, an ex Mayor of the town. Mr. Hathaway was also employed for many years by Mr. J. Breeds, of Ngaturi, and during the early days of the Pahiatua Borough Council acted as foreman. In this capacity ho was instrumental in laying down the majority of the borough, roads. Mr. Hathaway was a keen member of the M.U.1.0.0.F., being a mem ber of the East Oxford Lodge. He leaves a widow and seven children, Messrs G. A. Hathaway (Opotiki), F, E. Hathaway (Petone), F. W. Hathaway (Whangainomona), Mesdames T. Paget (Pahiatua), R. Thompson (Raetihi) and G. J. Powley (Rangiora). Of his brothers and sisters (10) the surviving members are Mr. Ohas. Hathaway (Petone) and Mrs. J. Futter (Wellington). The funeral took place at the Mangatainoka cemetery, where & representative gathering of citizens assembled to honour the memory of deceased. Members of Lodge Mangatainoka were present in force and after Rev. Ives, of Eketahuna, had conducted the burial service, Bro. H. A. Bick carried out the last rites of the Oddfellows' Lodge. The pall-bearers were Bros. L. Kitchen, R. Yewen, F. Staples, W. Devonport, H. A. Bick and A. Cox.