Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 269, 14 November 1945, Page 4

Obituary

MB. JAMES CHAMPION. With the passing of Mr. James Champion of Pahiatua, whose death occurred recently, went one of the Pahiatua district’s most popular and respected settlers. At the time of his death, Mr. Champion was 72 years of age. Ho was born in Plimmerton in 1873, from which settlement he came to the Pahiatua district in 1887. For the remainder of his life, the deceased lived in the Pahiatua district in his occupation of firstly a bush-feller and latterly a farmer. Mr. Champion had been in failing health for the past 12 months At the time of his death after a brief illness, was on the point of retiring. Upon arriving in the district, the late Mr. Champion took up residence at Makuri, where he lived for some 34 years, being the owner of a sheep farm there. From Makuri, he moved to Pahiatua township. For 60 years he was a member of the Foresters’ Lodge and had the distinction of being its oldest member. He was wellknown in that he was appointed to the County Council, which office he held from 1922 to 1932. A tribute paid by one of his fellow-council members was to the effect that the late Mr. Champion was a man of great practical knowledge and ability and during his tenure of office as a councillor for the Makuri riding, he rendered very valuable service not only to his constituent district of Makuri, but to the whole of the ratepayers of the Pahiatua County. In 1894 Mr. Champion married Miss Fanny Jane Skipper of Manga-ainoka. He leaves two sisters, Mrs. 8. Mexted, Tawa Flat, and Mrs. T. Mexted, of Pahiatua. Mrs. H. Whitta, Pahiatua, and Mr. A. J. Champion, Pori, are both children. There are six grand-children.