OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 17659, 17 February 1916, Page 5

OBITUARY

PASSIXG OK A PIOXEEk. -MU EDWARD BKEXXA.V. The hand of death has removed another of the oldest inhabitants of Gore and a pioneer who was well known from end to end of the district in the person of Mr E. Brennan, at the age of 75 years, says the Ensign. An Irishman by birth, MY Brennan left the Emerald Isle in 1857, the ship Champion of the Seas conveying him to Xew South Wales in the quick time for those days of 85 days. In Sydney Mr Brennan worked as a carter on the wharf for some years and then went ploughing for a Mr Hill, who owned a large estate. Tiiis Mr Hill owned property in southern Xew Zealand, and ip, 1862 Mr Brennan brought over for him a shipment of stock per the ship Bengal. The cattle were landed at the Bluff, and Mr Brennan went back to Xew South Wales for another year or two, finally settling in Southland in March, ISG4. Mr Hill’s two sons. Henry and William, then owned the Croydon Run, near Gore, and they engaged Mr and Mrs Brennan to proceed from Australia to Croydon. It was not long before Mr Brennan’s energy was manifested in this district, as soon after lie came in 1864 he ploughed up some virgin land. Ho also ploughed the area where the great plantation of trees now grows at “Wantwood Station,” and it is said that this was the first ploughing done in the Mandeville district. He continued to work on the Croydon and Wantwood Runs,until IS6S, when he took over possession of the old Otamete accommodation house. Here he first came in contact with the travelling public by whom he was so well and favourably known for many years, and where he gained the title “Old Xed Brennan,” which was a household name for over 40 years.

In 1871 the deceased bought the Longford accommodation house from the late Mr Joseph Burrows and erected a onestorey hotel of 14 rooms, roofed with galvanised iron instead of the customary shingles. This place was felt to be much too palatial for Gore at that time, but the faith of its proprietor was justified in after years. It was on January 2u, 18-72 that Mr Brennan came to live at Gore, and since that date he has been as-‘ sociated : wltli Gore, and prior to his death had the longest continuous residence here of any man then living.

In 1874 Mr Brennan acquired a farm at Jacobstown on the outskirts of Gore, and this is said to have been the first farm fenced in this district, and after hj« left the hotel in 1887 he made the farm his residence practically up till his death.

It was during his occupancy of the Gore Hotel (1871 to 1887) that the late gentleman acquired a widespread reputation with the travelling public. He was of a care-free, jovial disposition, and was equally happy in his relations with the moneyed squatters as with the poorest swagger. It was all one to the genial proprietor whether a man had money or not. If he had money he would pay, and if he had not he gave him the best .the house afforded, and he could pay when he could afford it. Surely a more hospitable or (jharitable man never ran an hotel in a new country, and this explains why one of the first questions invariably asked by people renewing acquaintance with Gore after long absences would be, "How is old Ned Brennan?” One of the traditions of Gore is that in the early seventies four clergymen (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist) met at Gore while travelling and perforce put up at the Gore Hotel. The proprietor with his happy faculty of geniality soon had them all on the best of terms and as space was limited divided two beds among the four of them. If tradition be true, they formed a happy family and parted next morning with the greatest of harmony. Another of the tsock traditions of early Gcrre is the deceased’s skill and ability in pig-hunting armed with a knife only. He was of an impetuous and fearless nature, and tackled old boars in a manner that made the onlookers hold their breaths. Many stories are told in this connection, bnt one and all bear tribute to the dashing intrepedity of the late Mr Brennan. After leaving the hotel Mr Brennan still maintained, his reputation for generosity and hSspitality. and many a swagger calling in at his farm has experienced his renowned kindness of heart This trait of character will be a lasting memorial to the deceased gentleman. Mr Brennan’s wife predeceased him some nine years ago and'he is survived by his daughter (Mrs Thos. Ambrose, Gore) and Messrs James (Gore) and Alexander' Brennan (Invercargill).