AN OLD IDENTITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 January 1926, Page 4

AN OLD IDENTITY

TUK LATE ATI! CHARLES KING Mr Charles King, who passed away recently :it. his residence. CoMingwcodstreet, was hoi ti in lb\36 in Suffolk, England. -Viler receiving a fair business education in the town of his birth, he decided to learn the trade of baker and confectioner. an t l uid so in the city of London. In the year 1856. hearing good accounts of New Zealand, he resolved to emigrate, and came out with the late Mrs King m the "Oliver Lang." Cap'tain Alundle. Alter lie had been a few months in Wellington news came of the finding of gold in the CoUingwood district, and Air King determine] to tr.\ bis luck there. While in- was doing very well, he mi i with nri acci-lenl. which caused him to be an inmate of the Nelson Hospital for sixteen week- .After that he comm.-uieed to Work a-t liis own trade in Nelson, and with energy and perseveranc 0 he soon possessed a large and lucrative business, which he carried on for 25 years. lie then sold out and took over the A\.inds..T Castle Hotel, where he remained for fifteen years, and earned a goiid name.

Mr King had been connected witlwthe Freemasons, Oddfellows, and Foresters. lie was. i.v ( . of the first to join the Volunteers. He spent 22 years with-them. He was similarly identified with the Nelson Fin- Brigade, in which he held the position of Lieutenant for some ten years, afterwards becoming Captain. He retired from the Brigade after 25 years' service, and was presented with the Association's gold star. Air King had a family of three sons and four daughters:, the surviving members of which are Air George King, Cbristchurcll ; Mrs Taylor, of Nelson ; All's Burst, Boa. West' Coast; Airs .7. Clear. Nelson ; amid Airs Coeber, Christchurch.