THE LATE JOHN SKINNER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11418, 22 December 1917, Page 5

THE LATE JOHN SKINNER.

Mr John Skinner, the victim of the ’.-ccideut, was one of the best known men in North Taranaki, says the Taranaki Herald. His parents were among the pioneer settlers of the district and he was born in New Plymouth in 1851, and was, therefore, G 8 years of age. He was on the laud in his earlier j-ears, but subsequently took up the profession of surveyor and engineer. As a surveyor he did much exploration work inthe interior of Taranaki and the King Country, and there were few men who knew the country and its capabilities so wel ss he. For many years he contributed articles periodically to the Taranaki Herald, describing the country, for which he always predicted a great future, even at a time when in official and other circles it was regarded as too broken ever to be of much attention to engineering, and as engineer to the Taranaki County Council he was the initiator of the policy whose soundness has been fully demon, strated. Except for a few years on the Thames, Mr Skinner spent the whole of his life in Taranaki and j like his brother, Mr W. H,- Skinner he was a walking encyclopaedia of information relating to the district and its people. Of late years he had given up the practice of|his profession and lived in retirement.

like his brother, Mr W. H,- Skinner he was a walking encyclopaedia of information relating to the district and its people. Of late years he had given up the practice of|his profession and lived in retirement. In company with Mr Kenneth Webster he left New Plymouth by motorcar on Tuesday for Palmerston North, en route for Timaru, where he intended to spend Christmas with one of his daughters, Mrs Scott. Staying at Hawera on Tuesday night, he and Mr Webster resumed their journey on Wednesday, and when nearing Marton in the accident occurred. Mr Skinner married a daughter of the late Mr John Gilmour, who predeceased him many years ago, leaving a family of throe daughters, Mrs Scott, Mrs Malcolm, of Gisborne and Miss Gwendoiin Skinner, and one son, Mr Ernest Skinner, who is in Sydney. His mother survives him, and he leaves two brothers, Mr J. Kingswell Skinner and Mr W, H. Skinner. Great sympathy will be felt for his family and relatives in the sudden loss they have sustained.