DEATH OF PIONEER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19810, 3 December 1927, Page 14

DEATH OF PIONEER.

OLD RESIDENT OF THAMES.

[by telegraph, —own cobujespokdent.] THAMES, Friday. The death occurred yesterday of one of the oldest identities of Thames, Mr. William James, xn his 94th year, Mr. James was born at Penzance, Cornwall, in 1834, and came to New Zealand with Mrs. James in the sailing ship Warwick, arriving at Auckland on January 2, 1875. He joined the gold rush to the Ghinemuri mining district m the same year, and had resided at Thames sine® that time. He followed the occupation of a miner for about 10 years, and then engaged in the Hauraki Gulf fishing industry for 25 years. He sailed his boat in the Gulf until an illness at the age of 80 compelled his retirement. Four years ago he and Mrs. James celebrated the diamond jubilee of their marriage in 1863. Mr. James was a prominent member of the old Primitive Methodist Church in the early days of Thames, and remained a member of tha Recha'bite Order until the time of his death. He is survived by Mrs. James, who is now 84 arid still in full possession of all her faculties.