OBITUARY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4378, 15 January 1941, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR BENJAMIN BUDDEN. WORTHY SETTLER PASSES. General grief was experienced in the community yesterday when it became known that an old and highly respected resident of the Pokuru district in the person of Benjamin Harold Budden, had crossed the Great Divide, after an illness of a week’s duration The late Mr Budden—“Ben” as he was known to a host of personal friends—was born at Masterton 59 years ago and received his education at Pahiatua. In his early days, he helped on his parent’s farm at Honikiwi and, after marriage 29 years ago, he removed to Pokuru where he had since successfully farmed. He was a pioneer in the true sense of the term, in that he helped to break in the family farm at Honikiwi and then undertook a similar task at Pokuru, ,where he bought the land from its wild, virgin state into the 'splendid condition that obtains to-day—a nice homestead, smiling pastures and a good herd. A hard worker, a man of indefatigable energy, he lived to see the fruits of his labour—an example of courage and high endeavour worthy of the stock from whence he sprang. In his time, the late Mr Budden was chairman of the old Pokuru Dairy Co., a member of the local Drainage Board, of the Pig Marketing Association, the Herd Testing Association and of the Waipa Racing Club. He also was an enthusiastic Mason, being a member of the Waipa Lodge. He leaves behind a widow and two sons and three daughters—one of the latter being Mrs Millar Anderson, of Oparau—to mourn his death and in their bereavement they will have the profound sympathy of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.