Mr. D. W. O. Fagan, Journalist And Farmer

Northern Advocate, 9 December 1940, Page 6

Mr. D. W. O. Fagan, Journalist And Farmer

One of the best known identities of Onerahi and, at one time, of the Middle North, the late Mr. David William Owen Fagan was buried at Onerahi on Saturday.

The fourth son of the Rev. H. S. Fagan, M.A., D.D.. vicar of St. Just, Cornwall, he was born there 84 years ago.

At the age of 21 he came to New Zealand and was one of the first to join the staff of the Government Life Insurance Department, Jt was a time of financial stringency and for a period the administration was unable to meet its wages claims until arrival of further funds from London. Later he took up farming at Mangapai. Capable Journalist.

Wielding a very facile pen Mr. Fagan turned to journalism as a vent for his originality and for some years was a member of the “Northern Advocate" staff when the paper was published in the Imperial Chambers, Lower Bank Street.

He was also editor of the “Whangarei Morning Press” for a period. Mr. Fagan was a capable and wellequipped journalist, very apt at descriptive writing. When he retired to live at Onerahi in 1912 he continued as a free lance journalist having matter accepted by the “Bulletin,” “Chambers' Journal,” the “Wide World,” and other overseas magazines and periodicals.

Some of his stories of the sea and of Maori life did much to make New Zealand better- known overseas. His work as “Advocate” correspondent at Onerahi was much appreciated by readers far and wide.

In recent years Mr. Fagan had been in failing health and five years ago lost his sight. He is survived by his .widow and three sons, Messrs. A. S. Fagan, Whangarei, A. M„ Te Puke, and C. L„ Grafton Road, Auckland.

Rev. J. A. Fagan, jof Eastbourne, Wellington, is a brother.