OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 25 June 1937, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR THOMAS G. L. TUTBURY Mr Thomas Tutbury who passed away at his late residence Bay View, Riwaka, on the 9th inst., was the fourth and youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs Richard Tutbury, two of Riwalca’s earliest pioneers. He was born in Riwaka in 1857 and at the request of the late Mr. Thomas Freeman and Mr George Land two Nelson ship carpenters who were engaged building a sailing boat at the foot of the old Pa Hill at the time of his birth, he was named Thomas George Land Tutbury. The late Thomas Tutbury was a man who paid strict attention to his own business putting his best into everything he attempted. A first-class farmer, an examplary hard working, honest pioneer, he was one of the very few remaining of the first generation of the white race born in Riwaka where he rendered yeoman service in assisting to redeem his fair native district from the wilderness. He spent the whole of a long and useful life in Riwaka. He leaves a widow, one son and three daughters, twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The funeral took place at the Riwaka Cemetery, the Rev. Mr Kirkham taking the service at the graveside. The bearers were Messrs C. Tutbury, R. Hickmott (nephews), M. Bradley, J. Bradley (grandsons), A. McLean and C. Harvey. Many of the Riwaka residents ’attended the funeral to pay their last respects to one who had rightly earned their esteem and who had lived a long life among them and was never nown to do anything but good to his neighbours.