OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17437, 8 April 1931, Page 7

OBITUARY

'MR. JAMES MACFARLANE FORMER P.B. SETTLER The death occurred at Waipukurau on Good Friday ol Mr James Macfarlane, a lonner rosuieiit ut tho i'overty Bay district, wiiu took a prominent part in local nonv wortc and in senu-puulic bodies activities. Tho lute Air. MacTarlaue will be well and respectfully remembered by the older residents of the district, as chairman for a number of years of tue took Uounty Council, a member ut the Hospital anti Harbor Boards, and president of the Poverty Buy Agricultural and r ustoral Society, in the early years of its existence. Born in 1854 in Loburn, North Canterbury, Mr. Macfarlane was the son of pioneering Scots, who were among the mst settlers on the Canterbury plains, lie was educated at the old High School in Christchurch, and alter leaving school lie followed his lather in the management of property, taking over the. Aciiray station in North Canterbury as a young man, and making a conspicuous success of his undertaking. He developed an interest in local body work, and represented fns area on the Amuri County Council, of which body he eventually became chairman for a number of years in succession. 'When Mr. Macfarlane came io Poverty Bay in 1892, he was well grounded in farming pursuits and local government, and with strong financial backing he took up the Takapau station, later increasing his holding to .10.500 acres ot freehold and 45C0 acres of leasehold, Ins stock increasing to 22,0C0 sheep and 1300 head of cattle, Shorthorns being his choice. A thoroughly proficient farmer, his property was a model of good management, and lie was able to give much time to public affairs, sitting on the Cook County Council as the representative of the Tolaga riding from the first year of his arrival in the district, and three years later assuming the chairmanship of that body. The other local bodies on which he served with credit included the-hospital and harbor boards, and liis energy and enthusiasm in A. and P. Society affairs were signalised by a period of great success in that body s history during his chairmanship. REMOVAL TO HAWKE’S BAY. In 1994 Mr. Macfarlane disposed of nis holdings in this area and acquired tho well-known Clive Grange property in Hawke’s Bay, which has since been subdivided and now carries a prosperous settlement of smallholders. Some 16 years ago lie retired from active farming, and took up residence in Napier, residing there continuously until early in February, when his handsome home was ruined by the earthquake. Mr. Maelarlane, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Lillie Macfarlane, then moved to Waipukurau, where Ins healt h became affected as a result of the exposure following the earthquake disaster, pneumonia de\eloping and bringing about Ins death. The late Mr. Macfarlane was twice married, his first wife having died in 1914, and his second wife a lew years ago. His family comprise, five daughters and two sons, the daughters being Mrs Walter Raymond (Hastings), Mesdarnes H. V. Hoadley and C’nthbert Raymond (Waipukurau), and Misses billie and .Jessie Macfarlane, of Waipnkurau and Sydney respectively. The sons are Messrs. Donald Macfarlane, of Rotorua, and John Macfarlane, of Wan garni. Endowed with a generous spirit and a keen appreciation of liinniui qualities, the deceased achieved great popularity among all classes. His fine literary taste was indicated by tin- accumulation of a valuable library at his Napier home and wherever lie went, in his occasional changes of residence, be installed himself in Hie esteem of bis neighbors, reserved as liis character was. The death of Mr, Macfarlane will cause much ngrot in this district, when; be was r.o well and favorably known.

Beseued l»v a Imy from the cold, heating waves of Wellington Ilarbor on Thursday evenin'!, Van Kearson, who had fallen in while attempting to board the. Arulmra, was in a semi-conscious condition when picked tip. Mr. Van Kearson, who lives at 130 Cuba street. Wellington, went to the side of the shin, which had hist arrived from Nelson, and immediately the, door was opened, asked a seaman to help him aboard. He caught hold of the door, and then the seaman, John Lillies, tried to help him. Mr. Van Kearson’s lean was unsuccessful, arid he did no! reach the deck, but managed to on toll hold of lim side of the ship, and there lie hung. A very solidly-built man, lie weight proved too great for the sea man, who was compelled to release his crip, arid Mr, Van Khar son fell into (tic water between (lie Arahura and (he wharf. He had been iri the water a few minutes when a boy went to his aid and put a line around him, by means of which he was pulled ashore in a partly-tjcmselous corulitiau.