OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR. GEORGE E. CLARK

PIONEER OF THE WAIKATO 68 YEARS AT CAMBRIDGE [from ouk own correspondent! CAMBRIDGE, Monday Ono of the oldest residents of Cambridge, Mr. George Edward Clark, aged 95, died at his residence in William Street last evening. He was known as the "grand old man" of Cambridge. Mr. Clark was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1810. He was trained for the land on his father's farm, but at the ago of 24 decided to try his luck overseas and selected New Zealand. He arrived at Auckland in 1864 in the ship Jumna, and three years later purchased a. farm of .'SOO acres at Ptikeroro, a property that is now one of the finest in the Cambridge district. Subsequently Mr. Clark increased his holding to 600 acres, and he farmed this for 27 years before he disposed of it. He then established the business which is now known as George E. Clark and Sons, grain and manure merchants, with headquarters at Cambridge :uid branches at Hamilton and Waharoa. Mr. Clark always took an active interest in agriculture, and was organiser of the original Waikato Farmers' Club. He was a member of the Waikato County Council for six years, a member of the Cambridge Hoad Board for several years, and an active member of the Waikato Central Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Mr. Clark was also a member of the Cambridge Borough Council, and up to the time of his death continued to take an extremely keen interest in the affairs of tlje district. He was a staunch supporter of the Methodist Church and of all social reforms. During his lifetime he gave freely to deserving causes. In earlier years, Mr. Clark was deeply interested in all the social affairs of the district, and was the recognised "father" of the Cambridge Bowling Club. The game of bowls was his favourite pastime, and it was only about five years ago that he stopped playing regularly. Mrs. Clark died in 1913. Mr. Clark is survived by four sons, Mr. W. E. Clark, of Claudelands, Mr. G. A. Clark, of Cambridge, Mr. H. H. Clark and Mr. A. It. Clark, of Hamilton, and two daughters, Mrs. A. W. Gane and Mrs. A. 11. Cox, of Cambridge. *

MR. R. WEBSTER The death has occurred at his residence. Dominion Road extension, M ount Roskill, of Mr. Ralph Webster, of the optical firm of Balfour, Irvine and Webster, Limited, Auckland and Hamilton. Mr. Webster, who was widely known, had lived in Auckland since his arrival from Scotland in 1920, with the exception of four years spent in Hapiilton. He is survived by his wife and a daughter. The funeral services were conducted by tbe Rev. H. G. Brown, of Mount Roskill, and Masonic rites by Mr. C. E. Dutton. MR. JAMES WILLIAM WILSON The death has occurred at Huntly of Mr. James William Wilson, aged 86. Born at Seiham Harbour, Durham, in 1819, Mr. Wilson came to New Zealand 41 years ago. when he settled in Huntly. With the exception of a short visit to England in 1913, he resided there until his death. For 16 years he was engineer to the Taupiri coal mines until 1909, when with his son-in-law he established the business of Wilson and Shaw. He took an active interest in the business until his retirement in 1920. In his earlier years in Huntly Mr. Wilson was keenly interested in local affairs. He was married in 1873 and his wife died in 1916. He is survived by one daughter.

MRS. S. J. WILLIAMS [from our own correspondent! PUKEKOHE, Monday The death occurred last evening of Mrs. Sophia Jane Williams, a wellknown Pukekohe business woman at the age of 59. Mrs. Williams was corn at Ponsonbv, Auckland, being the eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. G. Bettridge. She married Mr. Samuel Ford, and they carried on a bakery business in Waihi. The death of Mr. Ford occurred in 1912. Some time later Mrs. Ford was married to Mr. W. Williams, who died during the influenza epidemic in 1918. Mrs. Williams was associated with the business and civic life of Waihi for nearly 30 years. For some years she was a prominent member of the Waihi Hospital Board, resigning her seat when she came to Pukekohe. About four years ago she took over a bakery business in Pukekohe, which had been conducted by one of her sons, Mr. Lionel Ford, who returned to Whangarei. Mrs. Williams is survived by three sons. MR. JOSIAH BURROWS [from our own correspondent] Hamilton, Monday The death occurred at Opotiki yesterday of a former Hamilton resident, Mr. Josiah Burrows, at the age of 89. Mr. Burrows was born in England and after emigrating to Australia as a young man, enlisted as a special constable to operate against the Kelly gang and other bushrangers. He came to New Zealand 88 years ago, and was in business in Auckland. On his retirement ho took up his residence in Hamilton and left for Opotiki a few years ago. Mr. Burrows is survived by his widow and an adult family of five sons and one daughter. MRS. EMILY SARAH PEARCE The death occurred in Auckland on Sunday of Mrs. Emily Sarah Pearce, wife of Mr. George Pearce, of Rautangi Road, Mount Eden. Born in Tasmania in 1850, Mrs. Pearce shortly afterwards moved to Melbourne, and at the age of five came to Russell with her parents. FTor father, the late Captain Thomas Wing, who had been making extensive surveys of many New Zealand harbours, was then in command of a vessel trading to Mauritius, and his wife was left very much alone to the bringing np of her familv amid the stirring times of early New Zealand colonisation. Captain Wing was appointed harbourmaster at Manukau Heads in ISSB. and during the Maori War the family passed through trying experiences, a guard of 10 Imperial soldiers giving protection for some months. In spite of this, the flagstaff at Manukau Heads was cut down and the life-boat destroyed bv the Maoris. In 1863 the family witnessed the wreck of H.M.S. Orpheus at Manukau Heads, when 181 lives wore lost. Mrs. Pearce often gave graphic descriptions of the wreck, fn 1874 she married Mr. R. M. Wallis, fourth son of the late Rev. James Wallis. who arrived in New Zealand as a Methodist missionary in 1834. They took up their residence in Auckland, where they attended the Grafton Road Church for 46 years. Mr. Wallis died in 1920 Some years later his widow married Mr. George Pearce, of Taranaki, who survives her. Mrs. Pearce was always deeply interested in social and temperance work. She leaves three sons and two daughters. Captain Alan Wallis, of the steamer Rona, is a son.