PIONEER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24243, 8 April 1942, Page 7

PIONEER'S DEATH

MR. FRANCIS ROWE The death occurred yesterday of Mr. Francis Rowe, of Heme Bay, an old and well-known resident of Auckland. Mr. Rowe, who was in his 85th year, was born on the North Shore, his parents' association with New Zealand dating back to the beginning of 1840. For many years he was engaged in a grocery business, and then joined the commercial staff of the New Zealand Herald, where he remained for 34 years until his retirement about seven years ago.

Mr. Rowe was associated with the Newton Congregational Church and Sunday School for 79 years. For 35 years he was superintendent of the Sunday school, and in 1928 he was publicly presented, with the golden diploma of the British National Sunday School Union on the completion of 50 years of continuous service as a teacher. He was president of the Auckland Sunday School Union from 1919 to 1921, and was the founder of a club for boys. In March of last year Mr. and Mrs. Rowe celebrated the diamond jubilee of their wedding, which took place in the Beresford Street Congregational Church on March 23, 1881. Mrs. Rowe, who was formerly Miss Martha Bell .Tack, was born in Scotland, but was brought to New Zealand at the age of one in the ship Jura. Mr. Rowe is survived by his wife and four sons and five daughters. There are 20 grandchildren.