Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 109, 9 May 1941, Page 3

Obituary

AIR. JOHN GRAY, OF FEILDING For many years resident in the Fcilding district, Air. John. Gray, late of Kawa Kawa Road, died in the Wellington Public Hospital on Thursday last at the ago of 86 years. His was a remarkably varied career in association with early West Coast settlement and despite a rare affliction of the nervous system which necessitated over 30 surgical treatments during his lifetime, he remained an active worker on tho land until two days before his sudden death. Tho late Mr. Gray was born at Otaki of parents who had come to New Zealand in. the sailing ship Clipper under the command of Captain. Cox. The circumstances of his birth, in a Alaori canoe tho day after the Englanders’ new home in the land of their adoption had been, burnt to the ground, set upon him the seal of a hardy wayfarer in tho years that lay ahead, lie had no schooling yet he was well read, spoke two languages, English and Maori, fluently, was a scholarly writer and possessed the marked ability of a raconteur. In his young days he broke horses to the saddle for service in Wellington city ’s first horse-drawn trams and also raced a number of his horses at country picnic meetings. Air. Gray spent his early life largely amongst stock, both cattle and sheep, and took a keen interest in all forms of farming, particularly in station work, taking part in. and watching the development of such well-known stations of Bushy Park and Orongorongo. Later ho was to manage for tho late Captain Hewitt at Fitzherbert and for the lato Mr. E. J. Riddiford at Westclla, Longburn and Oroua Downs, before coming to the Fcilding district to manage at Cheltenham, and finally take up sumo of the Kawa lvawa land, up to then used for stock-fattening purposes, and farm on his own account.

Tlio late Mr. Gray married at Marton Bertha Ann Carrol, who predeceased him. some four years ago, and is survived by his two daughters, Airs. W. D. AlcCallum (Awahuri) and Mrs. G. Best (Palmerston North), and two stepdaughters, Mrs. W. Frew (Taihape) and Airs. Amy Chamberlain (Feilding), the latter having resided with him. For many years the late Air. Gray had been a member of the Rangitikei Club and a keen supporter of tho Feilding A. and P. Association, having been a horse exhibitor at Feilding and other shows. Tlio funeral, which took place from

England and officiated at the graveside, the pall-bearers being Messrs W. Gray and S. Gray (nephews), 11. Frew and R. Chamberlain (grandsons), G. Best (son-in-law) and J. Adams. Many beautiful wreaths were deposited with the casket.