OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 12

OBITUARY

MR. THOMAS C. BABE EARLY NORTHLAND SETTLER The death has occurred of Mr. Thomas Christy Babe, aged 8!) years, u descendant of one of the pioneering families of North Auckland, • and one of the early settlers in the Whangarei district. Born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, he came to New Zealand with his parents on the ship Cairngorm in 1862, being the third sou in a family; of 10 children. After a few months in the Howick district, the family moved to Matakana, on the east coast, and took up farming. Three years later the family removed, to Waikiekie, near Whangarei, amf took over a block of bush country for farming purposes, Access was only possible by means of surveyors' tracks, and all necessaries of life were transported by bullock and sledge. Supplies were delivered from Auckland by means of cutters and when storms delayed the vessels the settlers were occasionally short of foodstuffs and existed on the barest of rations. In 1886 Mr. Babe married Miss Fanny Eliza King, daughter of another' pioneering family, also from Northern Ireland, and the young couple acquired a block of virgin bush covering 700 acres. They cleared the land and converted it into flourishing pasture lands. All the timber required to build their homo was cut from the bush and pit-sawn by Mr. Babe, assisted by neighbours. After a successful careor, Mr. Babe retired in *1919 and took up residence in Marigere. Mr. Babe was associated with the Methodist Church throughout his lifetime. He is survived by his wife, one son and two daughters; There are eight, grandchildren. A younger son was killed in France shortly before tho Armistice in 1918. .■