A QUEENSTOWN PIONEER

Southland Times, Issue 17492, 22 April 1915, Page 7

A QUEENSTOWN PIONEER

THE LATE FRANCOIS ST. OMER. • One of the oldest. If not the oldest, and best known residents of Queenstown—Mi* Francois St. Onicr, a Fine type of tho pioneer of Otapro—passed to bis rest on Sunday morning last at the advanced apje of SS years (reports the Lake Wakatipu Mail). The late Mr St. Omer hail seldom ever boon confined to his bod and did his accustomed round on Saturday afternoon, retiring early. On Sunday morning deceased was found dead in his bod. There was not tho slightest sign of a struggle. The lato Mr SI. Omer was a Frenchman, having been born in Marseilles. Harly in life he left for London and afterwards sot out for California, where lie engaged in mining. In tho liftics ho came out to New South Wales and was subsequently attracted hy the Victorian gold rush, which ho followed right through. Deceased commenced in his trade as a baker in Albany where he married. His next move was across tho water to New Zealand. Like many other pioneers tho lure of gold attracted him to Otago and lie followed the rushes right through to Queenstown, During the years ho was on tho Victorian and Olagan goldtields deceased experienced to tho full all the vicissitudes of those pioneering days. His arrival in Queenstown dates back as far as ISfiJ. Shortly after his arrival here he took over the lato Mr Rees’ dining tables. Jlc then acquired Duncan and Lamb's bakery, which business, in conjunction with a restaurant, he conducted up till the date of his death. The lato Mr St. Omer took a very prominent part in municipal affairs, and holds an unbeaten record of survive in tho government of the town. 710 hold the position of councillor and mayor for 1L and 14 years respectively ami when ho retired from tho mayoralty—in tho year RHU>— the residents presented him with two beau l i fully enlarge*l photographs of himself, one of which hangs in the Library at tho present time. Deceased represents! Lake (.Vanity on the Charitable Aid Board for many years. Ho was a member of the Acclimatisation and Caledonian Societies aiid served si*voral years on the old Wakatipu Hospital Trust. In all things that made for the (rue welfare of the borough and district Mr St. Omer took a warm interest. During liis lengthy residence hero he always took a jdea.sure in doing good—his hand Mas continually in his pocket in support of local institutions and every Morthy cause. Deceased had practically lived in retirement for the last two years, spending his time about his home and in his garden. His wife predeceased hint by DM> years. Of his family of four there are two Jiving, Messrs F. and A. St. Orner, who have carried on tho bakery and confectionery business for some years past. To these, in common with a. host of friends throughout the Wakatipu. we offer our sympathy. As a token of tho respect in which deceased Mats held, many of the Hags in the town M-cro half-mast-ed on Monday and Tuesday. The funeral took place on Tuesday, the remains being followed to their last resting place by a large cortege. Tho Rev. Father O'Donnell performed the last rites at the graveside.