OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 6

OBITUARY

JOHN SHIELD. By the death of Mr John Shield at Tokanui recently that district lost one of its oldest and most respected pioneers. Although Mr Shield has been in rather indifferent- health for some time, his death was not exepcted. The funeral took place on June 12, and although a very wet day a large number turned out to pay their last respects to their old friend. Mr Shield is buried in Quarry Hills cemetery, alongside his wife who predeceased him eight years ago. The late Mr Shield’s early life was spent in the north of England, although born on the Scotch side of the Tweed, he spoke in the pronounced Tyne-side dialect. He worked for some years at Newcastle-on-Tyne and later at Ashlington Colliery as a miner. About 1879 a number from the Ashington district decided to come out to New Zealand. A party consisting of Mr and Mrs Shield and their son and the late Mr Lamb and his daughter and two sons left in November of that year in the ship Wellington (Captain Cowen) and landed at aimers in January 1880. The friendly feeling existing between members of this party was no doubt a factor in inducing them later to all take up land in the same block in Tokanui. The only surviving members of that party to-day is Mr Robert Lamb, farmer, Quarry Hills and Mr John Shield, only son of the deceased. Mr Shield after coming to New Zealand spent some years in the Clutha district. He was employed for about two years as married ploughman by Mr Mosely of Inc.hclutha. On leaving the Clutha about 1886 he took up land from the Crown, in the Tokanui district and which at the present time is one of the best farms in the district. Earlier he took an active part in public matters, but of late years, owing to deafness, he was unable to do so. He was a good judge of stock and usually secured top prices. At the sales he was a noted figure and will be very much missed.