Mr Tom O'Carroll, 80: Long Life Of Service

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1949, Page 7

Mr Tom O'Carroll, 80: Long Life Of Service

NOW past his 80th birthday, Mi’ Tom O’Carroll, that grand old man of Maungakaramea, still retains that spirit which is peculiar to pioneers everywhere. , ' . ' Despite his years he wears no glasses, speaks in a nrm voice, and, while his hearing is not as good as it was, Mr O Can oil would have no use for a hearing aid. • , , Perhaps his health is so sound because he has never smoked, and is a moderate drinker. “Nobody’s ever seen me the woise for liquor,” he said.

Mr O’Carroll has done more for sport and social life in his district than any other man. He was born at Maungakaramea on January 18, 1869, and has lived there all his life. After some time at farming, he became a stock agent for the North Auckland Farmers’ Cobp., Ltd. Then followed 23 years as held inspector—formerly known as Crown Lands ranger—for the Land and Survey Department. “They retired me in 1936, on account of my age—l was 67,” Mr O'Carroll said. “However, the State Advances collared me and I stayed with them for two and a half years. I helped in the valuing of Maunu Riding and the Onerahi Town Board district in 1939..’’ ON LAND BOARD. By this time Mr O'Carroll was 70, but his days of service to the comniunity were far from over. He successfully contested a vacancy on the Crown Lands Board as Crown Lands representative. During his seven-year term on the board, Mr O'Carroll twice was. reelected. He retired from the board three years ago, when he was 77. Until two years ago Mr O’Carroll had been living on his own farm. When he transferred it to his son, Mr Laurie O’Carroll, he went to reside with his daughter, Mrs L. Woolhouse. 'of Maungakaramea. Mr O Carroll’s wife predeceased him nine years ago.. Mr O’Carroil’s early school, days required a lot of walking. In those times children had to attend two schools. One was open one day, and the other the next. The distance between the two was about .31 miles, and to get from home to school, Mr Mr O’Carroll used the oldest method of transportation known to man—the feet. ’KARAMEA’S FIRST SCHOOLS. One of the schools was located where the cemetery is now; the other, which Mr O'Carroll attended from the day it was opened 70 years ago, is still standing, and is still being used as a school. When he was a boy ihere were quite a lot of houses in Maungakaramea but very few horses. He can remember when there were only two or three in the whole settlement. The horses were very scared of the new-fangled machines which were beginning to be seen on the land. Mr O'Carroll was driving a buggy loaded with passengers one clay when the horse took fright at a car and bolt’d for a bank. The buggy and its passengers followed the horse over, but no one was injured. Another highlight in his life which is remembered well by Mr O’Carroll was the occasion oLliis retirement from the Lands and Survey Department. At a dinner in Whangarei one of the presentations was an illuminated address. "I am very proud of that, ’ he said. ENCOURAGED SPORT. Mi’ O'Carroll’s unbounded energies had always been well to the fore in the cause of sport. He was secretary of the committee which was responsible for the buying of the present Maungakaramea sports ground. “I am very proud of that ground when I see it today,” he remarked. “It is one of the best in the North."

house wasn’t big enough to hold them all,” he smiled. Mr O'Carroll has four sons and two daughters. His youngest, Mr Tom O’Carroll, is a teacher at the Whangarei Boys’ High School; Emmett, district lields inspector for Taranaki Province; David is sergeant in charge of the Huntly police station; while Laurie is farming Mr O’Carroll’s former holding at Maungakaramea.. Mr O'Carroll’s two daughters are Mrs Woolhouse and Mrs M. McLennan, of Whareora.

The fact tha he has three greatgrandchildren, . besides 14 grandchildren, causes Mr O Carroll a considerable amount of pleasure. /.,

Being a keen cricketer in his youth, Mr O'Carroll does not allow his age to hamper his enjoyment of the game now. He attends all the local matches and keeps the score. He is still president of the Maungakaramea Cricket Club. In fact, there is no sports body in ’Karamea with which Mr O'Carroll has not been connected.

Weightier matters have also taken up a great deal of his time For 20 year’s he was chairman or secretary of the School Committee, was a member of the Road Board, the Farmers’ Union, and is still a member of the Waiotira and Wliangarei A. and P. Societies. A keen horseman, he took part in the horse events at both societies’ shows.

The religious side of his life has not been neglected, and Mr O'Carroll, a devout Roman Catholic, is rarely if ever absent from Sunday mass. He was guest at a big party in his honour on his 80th birthday. “The