PENSIONER FOUND DEAD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16228, 30 December 1926, Page 7

PENSIONER FOUND DEAD

IN WHAEB AT NGATAPA The police were advised last evening that an old-age pensioner, James Roy Curtis, 77, had beon found dead in a whare at Ngatapa. The deceased had for some time teen living in a hut en Mr. J. T. -Hamilton's property. Yesterday Mr. Hamilton, who had not seen Curtis about for three days, visited the hot and found Ids body, it being apparent that the man had been dead for some days. An inquest is being held at Patutahi to-day. - Mr. Curtis- had been a resident oi Ngatapa for some time, and had earned great popularity among the residents there. He vvas*typical of a big class oi wandering men, and in the course of Ins long life had covered a substantial nortion of the globe, as sailor and- spldier. and worker in various grades. He had fought at Gate Pa in the Maori war and was in other engagements in the early day's of settlement in New Zealand. Ho could speak most entertainingly upon the; trials of the pioneers. The goddiggings in Australia and Zealand claimed him for manv years, and later he had been a farm worker and general hand in a variety of capacities. He had Tp relatives in the Dominion, and was belictved to have been born in Australia. H» enioved remarkably good health, and ihoasted 'that he had not been sick for a day in his life.