OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 8 August 1934, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR T. H. TORODE

The dentil occurred at his residence, P'airhall valley, Marlborough, yesterday of Mr Thomas Henry Torode, a prominent Marlborough orchard Ist, formerly of Motueka. The late Mr Torode, who was only 44 years of age, wa s a native of the Channel Islands (says the “Express”). Upon coming out to New Zealand he obtained a position with the Moutere Fruitgrowers’ Association, Nelson. This was before the war. Ho enlisted in Nelson and whilst on active service suffered injury to his health which finally led to considerable illness in later years. After the war, Mr Torode, in partnership with another returned soldier, took up an extensive apple orchard in the hairhall valley. The partnership was subsequently dissolved, and Mr Torode continued to operate the orchard as the largest individual fruit holding in the province. He rapidly assumed a position of leadership amongst the local fruitgrowers and held the offices of piesident and treasurer of the Marlborough Fruitgrowers’ Association for several years, while at the time of his death he was a director of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. Besides being a thoroughly proficient .orchardist, he was a capable organiser, and established his own orchard as a model in up-to-date methods and modern equipment. He had considerable business attainments and a sound grasp of the marketing aspects of the industry, and his opinions carried a good deal of weight, both locally and in Wellington. He worked vigorously and conscientiously for the good of the industrv. and only the ultimate breaking down of liis health in the past few months finally precluded him from continuing to bear the weight of responsibilities he had carried for so many years. Possessed of an alert mind and cordial disposition, Mr Torode made friends rapidly, and those who knew him well never ceased to wonder at the gallant fortitude with which he bore his sufferings. His passing leaves a big gap in orcharding circles in New Zealand. The late Mr Torode is survived by his wife and one daughter, to whom very general sympathy will be extended.

MR HUMPHREY O’LEARY

ARRIVAL AT NELSON IN 1871

VOYAGE OF OCEAN MAIL RECALLED The death occurred at Mastcrton on Sunday of Mr Humphrey O’Leary, after a protracted illness. The late Mr O’Leary was born in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, and, in company with a number of other Irish emigrants, arrived at Nelson in the sailing ship Ocean Mail in 1871. He was then 18 years of age. From Nelson he went to Blenheim, where he was married. For a time he lived at Starborougli, now Seddon, but in 1885, with his wife, the late Mr O’Leary went to Mastcrton, where he established a blacksmith business which, in association with his son, Mr ,T. O’Leary, he carried on until about four months ago. He was a foundation member and the first president of the Mastcrton branch of the Hibernian Society. and was the second oldest member of the society in New. Zealand. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, who is the oldest member, had joined in 1884, four years before. The iate Mr O’Leary is survived by a widow and a family of four sons and five daughters. The sons arc Messrs Jack O’Leary (Timaru), Joseph O’Leary (Masterton), H. F. O’Leary (Wellington), and the Rev. Father* Mark O’Leary, a Marist missioner. The daughters are Mesdames T. Peters (Masterton), P. Barry (Foxton), A. Ascot (Wanganui), J. McKenna (Bunnythorpe), and J. Brophy (Palmerston North). A son, Mr P. O'Leary, and a daughter, Mrs P. Griffin, died some years ago. There are also a number of grandchildren.