THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Northland Age, Volume III, Issue 17, 6 May 1931, Page 4

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

THE LATE MR. S. WRATHALL The death of Mr. S. Wrathall, which occurred at his son Richard’s residence at George Street, Mangonui, on Monday April 20th has moved from our midst an old and wellknown identity in the history of our County. He was a member of that old school of pioneers who are referred to by every loyal New Zealander in terms of envious admiration. His sterling qualities and genial disposition leaves his death to be deeply mourned by a very large circle of friends throughout the far north. Born at Taipa, Mangonui, eighty-five years ago, the late Mr. Wrathall received his education at private schools in Oruru and Mangonui paying 1/per week to the master every Monday morning. Completing his education he commenced his career by acting as storeman to Capt. Butler at Mangonui. Leaving this gentleman’s employ, he joined his father at Taipa where his parents conducted a general store.

Whilst working in this store he participated in the purchase of the first shipment of Kauri gum sent from this country to the Motherland.

At the age of 23 years he married Elizabeth Wells. He now severed his connections with his father’s store and started out on his own account to deal in Kauri timber. His first investments in this connection were made in the purchasing of bush areas at Rautahi and Rotokamahi.

After being engaged in the timber industry for a brief period the first gold rush at the Thames occurred.

Being yet a young man and lured by the prospects of the fortunes that were to be made out of gold mining, he journeyed to the Thames goldfield.

Whilst in the Thames and at the time when the seat of Government was transferred from Russell to Auckland, he speculated in town section properties in Auckland. Later he exchanged these for further timber interests in the Otongoroa district. Returning from his sojourn in the goldfields he again settled in Mangonui where he purchased the Donnebrook Hotel property.

This business' engaged his attention for 3 years at the end of which time he re-entered the timber trade, which calling he followed for 30 years. His work during this long period was mainly confined to the squaring of baulk "for shipment to the Australian markets.

A few surviving friends of the deceased’s early days when reminiscencing refer to the agility and cleverness with which he handled a beating off and broad axe declaring this his fame in this direction was a favourite topic in the conversations of early days. The deceased’s activities in public affairs showed him to be a man who took a keen interest in administration of his district as well as his County" For 15 consecutive years he was a member of the Mangonui School Committee.

As Mangonui representative on the Oruaiti Road Board he served 9 years. He was one of the first members of the Mangonui Council when the Counties Act was first introduced to apply to the Mangonui County. Through a faulty gazetting of the abolition of the Road Boards, the first election of councillors was deferred for eight months and each

Board nominated the necessary quota of members to carry od Lip work. Jflft The deceased was one cnW*u by the Oruaiti Board to act as their representative until the necessary adjustments of the financial liabilities of the absorb ed Boards were finalised.

The high esteem in which the late Mr. Wrathall was held was evinced by the large and repiesentative gathering which assembled to pay their last tribute to a highly respecled citizen, a loyal and dearly beloved friend. Over 200 marched in slow solemn procession to that little hillside Church where the coffin which was borne by his six sons was laid to rest. Over forty wreaths and floral emblems were placed upon the grave. Among those who attended the funeral was the deceased’s sister, > Mrs. Whitehead. Mrs. Whitehead is the last of the original Wrathalls who are truly New Zealand and Australian pioneers, as their mother was born in Gisborne in 1815 and their father in Ballarat, Victoria in 1803. Mr. Wrathall leaves sons, 3 daughters, 46 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.