NONAGENARIAN'S DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19981, 25 June 1928, Page 10

NONAGENARIAN'S DEATH.

MR. HENRY THOMAS SQUTHEE HARDSHIPS OF EARLY DAYS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] MAT AM AT A, Sunday. The death has occurred at Walton o{ Mr. Henry Thomas Wilkinson Southee, in his 98th year. Mr. Southee, who came from Maidstone, Kent, came to New Zealand 87 years ago, in the sailing ship Lady Nugent. He arrived in Wellington on March 17, 1841. There were then neither houses nor roads where the port and city of Wellington now stand, and the early-comers had to live in tents, raupo whares, and sod huts. Mr. Southee shared the arduous labours inseparable from pioneering, including road work, drainage, pit-sawing and general farm work. He farmed at Lower Hutt for some years, and later took up land at Feilding. Mr. Southee was a member of the Oddfellows' Royal Rose Lodgo at Lower Hntt He was associated with the volunteer militia, although not called upon for active service, and was a "dead shot" with the rifle and shotgun. Latterly he had been staying with his sons at Walton, and was hale and hearty up to within three days of his death. Hesßaoked all his life, and until the day before his death. Mrs. Southee, who died about 28 years ago, was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wiggins, of Napier. Besides his sons, Mr. Souther is survived by eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The interment took place at Feilding.