EARLY SETTLER PASSES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 1701, 17 April 1926, Page 5

EARLY SETTLER PASSES.

,'■ DEATH OP MR ANDREW GRAHAM. ".SERVICE TO POVERTY BAY. ■ Tbroiigh the death of Mr A •• J Graham," which occurred at- an early hour;this morning, Gisborne loses one of its earliest settlers, and one,of the ' men who helped to-make the district what; it is t'c-day. The life of the late Mr Graham is a striking lesson'of the value-of "grit, and there are few men who have been more prominently associated ■j with the development of Poverty Bay. f Th'e late Mr Graham was born at East ■ ■ Kilbride.,,: near' Glasgow, and educated •at Glasgow; High School .and the Glasgow .University. He came to New Zealand in 1864, ' and landed' in the district'during its most troublous period, and assisted,first-in quelling the disturbarid'later in: helping to establish stable .local government. Prior to coming to the'district he was employed by. a'Napier firm which had a fairly substantial 'connection in this, district. His firsts'visit,'coincided with the terrible massacre perpetrated by Te Kooti, .and the*, ] news -of; catastrophe was brought to the, steamer .in the bay by the late Bishop Williams. Mr Graham immediately returned to Napier and joined aip with the volunteer unit sent to: Poverty Bay. This, troop remained some: time.'in-.ihe district,- being even- * tuatly)'.. replaced- by.: "the flovernment. . troops.,.' .'• ' ' l ' : [ .."■" ;■;* PROMINENT' IN" PUBLIC ' ' ' ,:'::; ,-,*; " ■-.'' ! life. _ ' i, Foiir years later,; Mr Graham came to thetdistrictv permanently and' .established, the),business', of; Graham and. Co. He wty nt-' ; 6ii'eci6r><if '''the -Poverty Bay Herald when it was owned by a company, and took an extremely active part iri the public life of the district. In the; year 1887, he represented the electorate in Parliament under the Atkinson For .some years he wa§ chairman of Hbe Coot; County Council, and.a member of t the-. Borough Council. He was the first chairman,of the.Gisborno Harbor Board, endl. often told how inflamed public opinion was -on • the harbor! question even in those early days. Although greatly immersed ■in busi- ; ness affairs, 2&r Graham rook a keen interest in all kinds of sport and was one of ttie foundation .members of the OisRowing Club when that Was formed in 1873.'.'.'.. . "The )ate Mr Graham, who was 83 years of. age,-- was married in 1873 to Miss Elizabeth Williams, and a little over three years ago the couple eele'Stated''their golden wedding,' being met % friends and' relatives from all parts of, Zealand. Whon Mr and Mrs Graham* landed in Gisborne aftor their they came aShoroin the same sqr°f.vboat as Mrs and the late Mr John Townley. ■ ; HIS "PART IN CHURCH WORK. MV Graham was . prominently associated with the work of. the Presbyterian Church in Gisborne practically from its inception, more .than 50''years .ago, and hi?l<£ nniny positions iri connection with the of the church. For a great many years' he .acted as session clerk; aposition.from which he resigned . less than three years ago. on-the occasion of the jubilee of the church. "f He is-survived by his wife and all the members of his family, comprising seven sons and three daughters. A brother, Mr. W. Graham, of Ormond, also survives ihim. The jkinily consists of Mrs. Todd (Wellington), Mrs. Dobson (Kaiti), Mrs. Burnett; (Warigariui), and Messrs. J. C. Graham (Waimata), A. D. Graham (Ruafcitnri), P;, H. Graham (Wellington), Win. graham (Hick's Bay), Stanlay Grabani {Detroit, U.S.A.)', Malcolm Graham ■ ffolaga Bay), and J. G. Graham (Gisbbrne)t, There are numerous grand-. ; children, living, also one great grand- , child.. • ' v •■ ',

The funeral will take, place at Hani, to-ihorrow. • .. ; . ' •