Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 3

Obituary

MR. BEN. GRAY, OP FEILDING. Another of Feilding’s pioneer settlers in the person of Air. Benjamin Gray passed away at his residence, Nelson street, on Alonday. The late Air. Gray, with almost a life-long residence in Feilding, was particularly well known and was always a source of first-hand knowledge of the pioneering days connected with the opening up and settle ment of the Aianchester Block. Born in 3855 at Otakl, wncre his parents kept a boarding house at the mouth of the Otaki river, Air. Gray was educated there and wnen quite a lad he came to the Feilding district to work on Alessrs Whisker and Hughie’s farm on the Awahuri road. His marriage took place in 1876 and for some time Air. Gray was farming on Rangitikei line and later at Taikorea and ltongo tea, which w'erc at that time still covered in bush. A number of years later Air. Gray took up a property on Kawa Kawa road, Feilding, and it was from there that he came to Feilding to live in retirement in Nelson street.

The late Air. Gray had a remarkably good memory and could relate many of his early experiences with the Alaoris and the missionaries on the west coast between Wellington and Wanganui. Air. Gray was a member of the Alethodist Church and for many years was a local preacher. Alany of the older residents in the Rongotea, Feilding and Halcombe districts will remember Air. Gray in that capacity, he having frequently conducted services in the Alethodist churches in those districts.

Mr. Gray was one of the oldest members of the Feilding Bowling Club, and until a few years ago he was a frequent and popular player. Members of the club he was so interested in will act as pall-bearers from the residence, while his sons will be the pall-bearers at the cemetery.

In the evening of his life Air. Gray celebrated the 60th anniversary of his marriage, that auspicious occasion taking place in December, 1936, when a large gathering of relatives and friends assembled at the residence in Nelson street, Feilding, to offer their congratulations and to join in the festivities which marked the half-century partnership of Air. and Airs. Gray. Unfortunately, at the time Air. Gray’s health was not very robust, and he was confined to his bed. Despite that, however, ho was bright and obviously very happy, and spoke of the happiness his marriage had blessed him with in that Mrs. Gray had shared with him the trials and worries of the pioneering days and in sickness and health she had been beside him.

Just a month ago Mr. Gray suffered the loss of his wife, and since her death he had failed in health. Left to

mourn his passing is a family of six sons and five daughters. One daughter predeceased her father five years ago. There are also 24 grandchildren and 12 great-grandehildren. The sons and daughters are: Alesdames W. B. Duthie (Bunnythorpe), Hall (Rongotea), Reid (Bulls),Alailman (Auckland) and Aliss Ruth Gray (Feilding); Alessrs Benjamin Gray and John Gray (Oroua Downs), George Gray (Taihape), Nelson Gray (Tangimoana), Stanley Gray (Rongotea) and Alfred Gray (Feilding). The funeral takes place to-day.