LONG LIFE ENDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23602, 11 March 1940, Page 9

LONG LIFE ENDS

MR. J. W. BRIDGMAN 87 YEARS IN DOMINION FARMING AND BUSINESS The death occurred yesterday of Mr. John Wickett Bridgman, of 187 St. Andrew's Road, Mount Roskill, at the age of 92. He was the proprietor of a large store in Dominion Road when he retired from business in 1914, and lie had been a resident of New Zealand for 87 years. Born in Truro. Cornwall, he was a small boy when he accompanied his parents to New South "Wales in the sailing ship Resolution. After 11 months in New South Wales the family embarked for New Zealand in ■ the brigantine Marmora, which in a gale narrowly escaped going ashore on the Three Kings.

The family settled in Auckland when there was a population of about 6000 and Mr. Bridgman often recalled bathing and fishing in the sea where Fort Street now is, and also alarms due to the hostility of the Maoris. His father started a business in Shortland Street. His first school was the establishment of Mr. Stables, where St. Andrew's Hal! now stands. He was later at the Parnell Grammar School under the Rev. Dr. Kinder. Among contemporaries at the school were the late Sir Francis Dillon Bell and the late Sir James Coates. At the age of 22 Mr. Bridgman took up land with his brothers at Te Awanuitu. After farming for some time he went to the goldfields at Grahamstown and, after engaging in other ventures, he took over the farm at Te Awamutu. Subsequently he sold the farm and engaged in business in Te Awamutu and in 1896 he came to Auckland and opened a store in Dominion Road, which he held until his retirement from business 26 years ago. Throughout his career Mr. Bridgman maintained a close connection with the Methodist Church. He was a foundation member of both the Te Awamutu and Epsom Methodist churches and he was a Sunday school teacher for 57 years. His interest in international affairs was keen, and he remembered and could quote details of 15 major wars during his lifetime. In 1875 he married Miss Elizabeth Cicely Burton, a member of an Auckland family. She died last year at the age of 87. Mr. Bridgman is survived by three sons and three daughters.