OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 17785, 14 July 1916, Page 5

OBITUARY

AIK JOHN BATH. A very old resident of Invercargill passed away on Tuesday after a short illness, in the person of John Bath, founder of the firm of John Bath and Sons, of this city. The late Mr Bath was born in Iva.unce.ston, Cornwall, Kngland, in 1844, and came out to Tasmania with his parents when a child. On leaving school he was indentured to the coachbuilding trade in Melbourne, where ho served his apprenticeship with his father, who some time afterwards purchased a farm at Gnmmies Bush, Southland, and the late Mr.Bath and his two brothers assisted in bringing over a shipment of young horses and cattle, landing at the Mokomoko and driving the stock via Invercargill, Otatara, and Riverton Reach to the new home. The deceased had good cause to remember the journey, having been the roughest be hail experienced, and undertaken on his twentieth birthday. He secured his first employment in New Zealand at his trade with the late Thomas Hanna, coachbuilder, Invercargill, with whom he remained until the West Coast gold rush set in, where he tried his luck for some time with varying success, when he. returned to his former employment. Tn 1870 he married Elizabeth Ferguson, of Kyneton, Victoria, and resided in Esk street on the site now occupied by Messrs Boss and Clendining’s warehouse. In 1872 the rice-eased joined in business with the late Mr Edward Huffadinc, and carried on under the style of HufTadine and Bath, their premises being on the section now occupied by Messrs A. Russell and Co., motor agents. The partnership continued until 188 a, when the late Mr Bath founded the business now carried on by .1. Math and Suns, and with which he was connected until a few years ago, when he retired. Though he always took a keen interest in the welfare and progress of Southland. the late Mr Math did not take an active part in local polities, except that Cor a number of years h* - was a member of the Invercargill. Incensing Committee. It is also worthy of note that he was one of the oldest members of the Shamrock, Rose and Thistle Bodge of Oddfellows, and continued his connection with it until his demise. lie was pre-deceased by his wile some two and a-half years ago, and leaves a family of two daughters and four sons.