Mr. J. Foster’s Death

Northland Age, Volume XIV, Issue 16, 22 January 1942, Page 1

Mr. J. Foster’s Death

Old Mangonui Identity

The death occurred in the Kaitaia Hospital on Sunday night of Mr. Jabez Foster, one of the oldest identities of the Mangonui disff-ict. Mr. Foster, who was in his 79th year, suffered a fractured leg as the result of a fall at his home in Mangonui some five weeks ago. Deceased was born in Lincolnshire in 1863, and left England with his parents in November, 1879, in the ship Earl Granville, arriving in Auckland in March, 1880. the family he was engaged in farming in the Oruaiti district. Later he was employed in bush and mill work in the Mangonui and Whangaroa districts.

After his marriage to Miss Annie Kitchen, of Victoria Valley, he was farming for a time at Pukekohe, later working a property at Takahue for a number of years before he returned to the original farm at Oruaiti. It was there that he suffered the loss of his wife and about 15 years ago retired to live in Mangonui. Deceased was a loyal and energetic supporter of the Methodist Church. The funeral service was held at Victoria Valley on Tuesday afternoon, when a fairly large gathering of relatives and friends w'ere present to pay their last respects. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. Whitfield, who paid glowing tribute to the memory of a life well lived.