Obituary

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 686, 11 June 1929, Page 9

Obituary

MR. J. M. MITCHELL

Mr. John Martin Mitchell, aged 54, has died in London. He was head of a leading Christchurch furniture firm and was prominent as a Dominion bowler. —P A. MRS. T. BELL-JONES One of the pioneer settlers of the j Ohakune district, Mrs. T. Bell-Jones, died last week, after a long illness. The late Mrs. Bell-Jones took an active part in the settlement of the district. She was born in Bristol, England, in 1849, and landed at Lyttelton in 1867. MR. ROBERT HYNDS Mr. Robert Hynds, who died at Gate Pa, Tauranga, on Sunday at the age of 69, was born in County Perry, Ireland, and came to New Zealand when a young man, being later engaged in the construction of the original Motu Track. He then went to America and engaged in farming in Canada and the United States. Later he visited Ireland, but in 1900 returned to New Zealand and settled at Gate Pa, where he engaged in dairy farming and fruitgrowing. ... Mr. Hynds is survived by his wife, four sons, Messrs. Robert Hynds, Auckland, Albert and George Hynds. Tauranga, John Hynds, Melbourne; and two daughters, Mesdames N. Oram, Auckland, and G. Sutton, Paengaroa. MR. SAMUEL RUNDLE Recognised as one of the oldest residents of the Taxanaki district, Mr. Samuel Rundle died Fitzroy. New Plymouth, last week, at the age of 85. Born at New Plymouth, Mr. Rundle was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rundle, who arrived in New Zealand in the ship Amelia Thompson in 1841. After living on his father’s farms at Moturoa, Ratapihipihi, and Bell Rock, he joined the forces as a driver at the age of 16, when the Maori War broke out, and while moving guns at an engagement with the Maoris at Huirangi in 1861 was severely wounded in the thigh. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Rundle engaged in an aerated water business established by his father, but later took up farming at Waiongona, and for some years spent a' deal of time in bridge building. The last big contract in which he was engaged was the building of the railway bridge at Aramoho, Wanganui. He then resumed farming on the Bell Rock property, where he remained until his retirement about 10 years ago. Mr. Rundle is survived by his wife and a family of nine. MR. JAMES DILWORTH One of the last of the original pioneers of Pukekohe, Mr. James Dilworth, died at the residence of his grand-daughter, Mrs. Roy Schofield, Waiau Pa, on Saturday. Born 86 years ago, the late Mr. Oil worth came to New Zealand by the ship Ganges on her maiden voyage, which occupied the greater portion of six months. He was the last of the male passengers left. Mr. Oilworth arrived at Auckland about 65 years ago, being then a young man of 20 years. He made his home at Tuakau, the only open settlement in the district at that time. A short while later he and his wife were compelled to remove to the Queen’s Redoubt, Pokeno, on account of the troublesome and hostile Waikato Maoris. It was at the redoubt that Mr. Dilworth’s eldest son was born. Mr. Dilworth and his family then removed to Pukekohe Hill, where he conducted the first store in the district. Subsequently he opened a store in Ihe present main street, and later went to Mauku to farm for a period of fotk: years. In the following years he owned a store in Pukekohe and spent 20 years there before removing to Te Aroha some two decades ago. For many years he was compelled to convey his stores from the port of Auckland to Dury by medium of horse and dray, and then transport them to Pukekohe by pack horse, the bridle track between Drury and Pukekohe being impassable to vehicular traffic. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. H. Dell, senr., Pukekohe, Mrs. R. ActonAdams, Christchurch, Mrs. T. Burgess, Patetonga, Mr. E. Dil worth and Mr. W. J. Lilworth, both of Auckland. There are 12 grandchildren end 12 great-grandchildren.