OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23552, 5 July 1938, Page 8

OBITUARY

MR JOHN KELLY The death has occuiTed at Gore of Mr John Kelly, who was well known in Eastern Southland, at the age of 94 years. Mr Kelly was born at Kilcoo in 1845, the year of the famine in Ireland when crop failures brought starvation and death to many of the poorer class. He attended the national school at Ballymoney, seven miles away, trudging daily from the two-roomed thatched cottage in which the family lived. Mr Kelly left school at the age of 12 years to help his father to cultivate the home farm. At the age of 14 he went into the surrounding country as a hired man and took a position at a place some 20 miles from Kilcoo. From time to time he walked home and back to see his parents. Later he landed at Cleator Mor, some five miles inland, at the foot of the Cumbrian mountains. He worked as a labourer in the engine yards, joiners’ shops and fitting departments for 15/- a week. Eight weeks later he suffered serious injuries from which he never fully recovered. While shunting a rake of trucks from the mines he sliped and a 36-cwt. wagon passed over one leg, crushing the bone and inflicting severe lacerations. He was an inmate of Whitehaven Infirmary for 12 months, but the injured limb failed to heal. However, he recovered sufficiently to take up his work again, and remained as an engine operator until 1913, when he decided to follow his brothers to New Zealand. Mr Kelly was for many years secretary of the Cumbrian workers’ organization and on leaving for New Zealand he was presented with an illuminated address and a purse containing £5O subscribed to by his fellow workers. His wife died about three years ago and he is survived by four sons, Messrs Bernard Kelly (Wendon), John Kelly (Riversdale). Joseph Kelly (Gore), and Edward Kelly (Hamilton), and three daughters, Mrs Morris (Gore), Mrs G. Currie (Gore), and Mrs P. Kelly (Gore).

MR GEORGE F. WRIGHT

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 3.

The death occurred at sea today on board the Mariposa of the Mayor of Honolulu, Mr George F. Wright, who was recently in Auckland on a health recruiting trip. According to advice received by radio by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, Mr Wright died when the vessel was steaming northwards between Pago Pago and Honolulu, where she is due on Wednesday. Mr Wright, who was about 55 years of age, reached Auckland in the Mariposa on June 10, intending to make the round trip to Melbourne in the interests of his health. On his arrival at Auckland, however, he appeared to be so ill that Sir Ernest persuaded him to come ashore, where he was provided with medical and nursing attention. He had apparently made sufficient progress last Monday to be taken on board the Mariposa for the return trip to Honolulu. He was accompanied by two nurses, and according to advice received from the Mariposa last Thursday he appealed to be standing the voyage well