OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 24055, 20 February 1940, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR TOM GILLER A resident of Southland for 77 years, Mr Tom Giller died in Invercargill on Sunday after three weeks of the only illness he had ever suffered. He was 86 years of age. Mr Giller was very well known personally to probably thousands of Southlanders, especially the early settlers; to many more he was known as a fearless correspondent of The Southland Times, his letters having covered a wide range of subjects. H: had great faith in the future of Southland and lived to see it emerge from an area of unproductive land to one of the most fertile provinces in New Zealand. Mr Giller’s father came to New Zealand in 1857 and five years later, when Mr Giller was nine years old, the other members of the family left their home in Somerset, England, to join the band of Britons who had decided to try their fortunes in a new land. On the sailing ship Sir George Pollock they had an adventurous voyage. Violent storms, a mutiny among the crew and a collision at sea made the voyage an exciting one. At last, in February 1863, the battered ship dropped anchor in Foveaux strait and the immigrants were rowed ashore, landing at Bluff. By coach and bullock wagon the Giller family, which had been met by Mr Giller, sen., came to Invercargill and on to what is now Bay road, where the father had made his home.

After receiving his education at a private school and later at a night school, Mr Giller obtained work cutting fascines for road-makers. He was subsequently employed on a farm at Otatara and then at Winton. At the age of 16 he decided to venture further afield. After walking to Winton he went as far as Kingston by coach, obtaining employment on farms in the district. He moved about a good deal, working wherever he could find something to do, and eventually saved enough money to buy 200 acres of rough farm land near Dipton. A man with a capacity for hard work—a quality that distinguished the pioneers—Mr Giller toiled mightily in bringing his property from its rough state into a productive farm. DOUBLE WEDDING In 1878 there was a double wedding, Mr Giller and his sister being married at the same time. It is believed that they were the first to be married in the Anglican Church at Gladstone. On his return to Dipton with his wife, Mr Giller not only worked his own farm, but classed wool in the district as well. On selling his property at Dipton he bought a farm at Riversdale and later acquired 500 acres at Centre Bush. He remained there for five years and then became a stock dealer. He was engaged in that work until he accepted the position of manager of a sheep station at Five Rivers. About 20 years ago he took over a small farm at Myross Bush, where he remained until he came to live in retirement in Invercargill 10 years ago. During the past decade his chief interest has been his garden, but he also took a live interest in current affairs. Mr Giller took an active part in the affairs of the districts in which he lived,' and was chairman of numerous committees and other bodies. He was keenly interested in the Farmers’ Union, of which he was a life member, and was at one time a member of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, whose shows he regularly attended. He was at the Centennial Royal Show, which he considered the best and most complete that had ever been held in Invercargill. It was Mr Giller who was chosen to speak on behalf of the early settlers for whom a tent with seating accommodation had been provided at the show. He was a member of the Masonic Order. Mr Giller’s wife died 20 years ago. He is survived by four daughters—Mrs J. R. Sutton (Invercargill), Mrs Astley Campbell (Sydney), Mrs J. Chilwell (Underwood) and Miss Giller (Oamaru) —and two sons—Mr E. C. Giller (Mossburn) and Mr T. G. Giller (Invercargill). MR H. CUNNINGHAM The death has.occurred of Mr Henry Cunningham, who was the. youngest son of a family of six of the late Mr and Mrs W. Y. Cunningham. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1866, and came to New Zealand with his parents in the City of Dublin in 1876 after a voyage of more than three months. The family landed at Port Chalmers and, after travelling to Dunedin by boat, Mr Cunningham, sen., leased a house and engaged in bridge building, one of the bridges on which he was engaged being the iron bridge over the Clutha river. The capital that he used for this enterprise was the amount that remained after paying the family fares from the proceeds of the sale of the farm in Ireland. Hearing that there was good land his father took up a farm at Conical Hill, and afterwards a farm of about 400 acres at Waikoikoi. At the local school Henry Cunningham completed his education. He then helped his father on the farm, and on the death of his parents he continued its management. About 1912 he retired to Riverton, where he has since resided. Shortly after arriving in Riverton he was married to Miss M. Rourke, at Invercargill, after she had returned from a visit to her parents in England. While in Riverton he was for 28 years an elder of the Presbyterian Church, and for about 12 years a teacher in the Sunday school. He was frequently engaged as a lay preacher in the church, also frequently taking services in a similiar capacity in the Methodist Church. He was an enthusiastic collector for Dr Baroado’s Homes. Although he did not take an active paid, in the civic affairs of the borough, Mr Cunningham was keenly interested in the welfare of the district and was constantly prepared to help in anything that was being undertaken. MR ROBERT SMILLIE (Received February 18, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 19. The death has occurred of Mr Robert Smillie, president of the Scottish Miners' Federation for 43 years and Labour member of the House of Commons for Morpeth from 1923 to 1929. He was also president of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain from 1919 to 1921. In 1924 he published the book, “My Life for Labour.” M. LOUIS VALCKE (Received February 19, 7.30 p.m.) BRUSSELS, February 18. The death has occurred of M. Lours Valcke, H. M. Stanley’s principal collaborator in the first Congo expedition which was notable for the crossing of the Crystal Mountains and the navigation of the Congo cataracts. THE MARQUESS OF HERTFORD (Received February 19, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. The death has occurred of the Marquess of Hertford at the age of 69 years. He incurred a reprimand from Queen Victoria when he won the title of the dancing earl after appearing in a skirt at a dance in Hobart.