OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 4 July 1922, Page 6

OBITUARY

.MR JOHN OLDHAM Mr John Oldham, who died on July Ist, in his 92nd year, was a descendant of the Oldhams of Werneth Abbey, in Lancashire. He was Irish on .his mother's side, and was born in County Cork in 1850. His early days were spent in Ireland, and when seventeen be went, to California., and was there in tho stirring times of the gold rush, hi 1851 be came to New Zealand. He was a km; explorer, and with his brother-in-law, tile late W. T. L. Travers, tramped over a greater part of the Nelson province. They were the first to cross the Takaka Hills, and found the first gold in the Takaka River. Later he and a, brother purchased “Meadow Bank" in Marlborough. He made another trip lo ami from England, and then went Horne again, and married Hie daughter of Col. Boyds, of the 52nd Regiment. Ho brought his-wife out lo New Zealand in .1859, and after two more voyages to the Old Country, finally settled in Now Zealand in 1872. Mr Oldham lived at 'AVerneth,” Wakapnaka, till 1913, when he came to his laic residence in Shakespeare Walk. His wife predeceased him by six years, also two sons more recently, one it will be remembered, losing his life in a tragic motor accident. He leaves two sons, Mr J.C. Oldham (of Taihapc), Mr H. E. Oldham (of Bid on), and tour (laughter?,, Mrs .Stafford, and Mrs Cecil (.‘note (of Nelson', Mrs C. P. Harris (Totaraiuii.i, and .Miss Oldham. Mr Oldham was for many years a member of the Nelson ( Ini’. Hi. appearance gave no sign of ids gma! oge, and his' faculties retained their vigour to a. remarkable degree.