Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 62, 15 March 1938, Page 2

Obituary

MR. A. DICHINS, PONGAROA The death of Mr. A. Dickins, of Pongaroa, which occurred on Saturday at Palmerston North, saw the passing of one of the earliest settlers, a pioneer of the district, and one who has played a prominent part in almost every phase of its development. He was 68 years of age. Mr. Dickins came to New Zealand at •the ago of nine years with his uncle. Mr. James Dickins, who took up land at Papatawa. Over 40 years ago Mr. Dickins took up a section of the then virgin bush country at Pongaroa. At that time there -were none of the road facilities that now serve the district, and until he was able to make a track through the bush for pack horses, Mr. Dickins had to carry all supplies from the Coonoor Valley, over the Puketoi ranges. A successful farmer, ho was also prominent in other district enterprises, including the running of a bricknmking plant and a sawmill, and also introduced motion pictures to Pongaroa. For a long period he was a member of the Akitio County Council and chairman of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union, of which he was a leader from its commencement. In recognition, of his service over a long period of years, Mr. Dickins was made a life member of the union by the Southern Hawke’s Bay executive, this being also recognised in a special letter. Mr. Dickins was also keenly interested in the W.D.F.U., in. the development of which Mrs. Dickins has played a prominent part, and he recently gave the land for a rest-room which the Pongaroa branch is now raising funds to build. Another activity in which Mr. Dickins was interested was the Dannevirke and district A. and P. Association. Mr. Dickins, who recently had a leg amputated and was in hospital at Palmerston North at the time of his death, is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Chadwick, of Ormondville, three daughters—Mrs. John Gillam (Dannevirke), Mrs. A. McNeilage (Pahiatua) and Mrs. A. Russell-Bunn (Pongaroa)—and two sons, Alfred (Mangatite. Pongaroa) and Thomas (Puketoi).