FATAL ACCIDENT AT ORAIHAU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7693, 19 July 1886, Page 5

FATAL ACCIDENT AT ORAIHAU.

On the 9th instant, while Mr. James Slater, President of the Okaihau and Bay of Islands Agricultural Society, ex-County Counoillor, and late chairman of the District School Committee, wa3 felling bush, he met with his death. Mr. Slator was a fine genialhearted man. The Agricultural Society and the schools will feel the loss of this gentleman, particularly the Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He leaves the funds of the society in a healthy state. Mr. Slator was also its treasurer. I fear that the society will suffer now it is losing its secretary, Mr. Nield, who is being removed to another school. Mr. Slator worked hard for its success. No doubt your readers noticed some months back that he was the purchaser of a number of Shorthorn (pure blood) stock. It was while enlarging his area of grass to support his splendid dairy that he met with his melancholy end. It was his aim to make his farm one of the best in the North. His dairy farm, though in its infancy, bids fair to hold its own in the Bay of Islands. He tended and housed his cattle carefully, for, as he has frequently told me, that " they stood by him," and that he would care for them in return. The inquest was, held on the 12th inst., before Captain Burleigh, J .P., and the verdict returned was "accidental death." He was buried in the .English Church yard, and the funeral was attended by the largest gathering of sympathising 'mourners ever witnessed in the settlement. Brother John Donaldson,Chaplain L.O.L. No. 37,conduoted the service of that institution, of which Brother Slator was a member, and an ornament. The Rev. P. Walsh, who read the beautiful burial service of the English Church, paid a touching tribute to the worth of Mr. Slator, and the loss the settlement had suffered by his sudden removal. The rev. gentleman hoped that his brother settlers would manfully take up the good works commenced by the President of the Agricultural Society. Mr. Slater was a native of Westmorland, England, brother of Mr. T. Slator, Auckland.[Own Correspondent, July 14.]