OBITUARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21198, 2 December 1930, Page 10

OBITUARY

MR JAMES SHIRLEY. In the passing of Mr James Shirley at his residence, Colac Boy, on November 22 (says the Southland Times), Southland has lost another of its worthy pioneers who enacted a great part in its early history. His career was a long and interesting one, and into hia 83 • years of life were crowded many varied and noteworthy experiences, Mr Shirley was born at the Hutt, Wellington, on June 30, 1847, his father, Matthew Shirley, arriving by .the second and his mother by the third ship under the charter of the New Zealand Company. He received his early education at the Hutt, and at the age of 13 left Wellington with his parents for Dunedin, where he worked at the time when Hasties, Barnes, Jones, and Macandrew were prominent men of the day. At the time of the Lindis Valley gold rush the family removed to Oamaru, returning to Dunedip when the Gabriel’s Gully rush took place. He and hia father, lured by this El Dorado, “ humped their blueys” and set off for Gabriel’s. They spent a fortnight at Waitahuna prospecting. During the sojourn there they “ bottomed three duffers,” or sunk three unprofitable shafts.. Camp was then struck for Gabriel’s Gully, where, at the age of 14, he worked the claim with his father. Up till the time of his death Mr Shirley retained vivid recollections of the thrilling times spent as a youth in this historic gully where romance, glamour, and tragedy were intermingled and gold won and lost in a night by the turn of Fortune’s wheel.

After leaving Gabriel’s Gully he and his father walked the distance of 57 miles from there to Dunedin in one day. They journeyed via the Waipori road through West Taieri. A few months later his father decided to trek to Southland. They left Dunedin with • a sixhorse wagon and a three-horse dray containing all their worldly possessions. All went well until the Popotunoa Gorge was reached, where a stoppage had to be made until a gang of men working there removed a quantity of rock and clay from the route. After a halt of a few hours the journey was resumed and the night was, spent at the abode of Mr Thomas Trumble, and the next with Mr Mac Gibbon at Deacre, The following day they reached the Halfway Bush and stayed with Mr M'lntosh. Mr Shirley and his father then engaged in wagoning first with bullocks and then with horses between Invercargill and the Lakes Districts. In crossing flooded rivers and negotiating almost impassable portions of the route they had many hairbreadth escapes. After the wagoning days they started farming in the Wyndham district, where some years later Mr Shirley’s father died. Mr Shirley, having experienced the hardships and difficulties of travelling on the poor roads of the early days, was one of the first to enter 'into the important work of road and railway contracting and bridge construction to facilitate travel to different parts of the province. Mr Shirley held a share in the contract for laying the gas mains in Invercargill and the formation of the North road.

At Fortrose he was the proprietor of two accommodation houses many years ago. The old Bridge Inn at One Tree Point was also at one time his. At various times he owned sawmills and flaxmills at Tokanui Gorge, Waikawa, and Niagara, xHis attention was then turned to farming pursuits in Waikawa Valley and Niagara, Mr Shirley later took up a farm at Pallia _ and afterwards retired to Orepuki, where he had business interests. On leaving Orepuki, Mr and Mrs Shirley and son went to Colac Bay, where they resided until the time of his demise. This notice would be incomplete without reference to the musical ability, prowess as a boxer and athlete, and skill, as an accomplished exponent and judge of step-dancing, and, above all, the generous disposition of the de--ceased gentleman.- He is survived by a widow and seven sons and five daughters.

MR NEAL DEMPSEY. One of the oldest-settlers in the Kaitieke district, Mr Neal Dempsey, sen., died at the Taumarunui Public Hospital last week. He was born near Belfast, Ireland, 60 years ago, and came to the Dominion when 18 years old. He settled in the South Island, and after following various occupations for a few years famed land at Tuapeka West and Beaumont, South Otago. He married in Dunedin, and, after spending 28 years in the South Island, went north and took up 1000 acres of land at Retarukc. Mr Dempsey was a successful farmer and a good judge of cattle and sheep. He took a keen interest in local politics, and at intervals served on most of the local bodies and sports clubs in the Retaruke district. He is survived by his wife, six P'ms, and three daughters.