OBITUARY.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14959, 6 January 1919, Page 7

OBITUARY.

MR JOHN BEST

Almost at the dawn of Ihe new year death removed one of the best known and most highly respected residents of Appleby in the person of Mr John Best. .Mr Best, who Was in his 73rd year, was a son of the late Charles Best, one of the pioneer- settlers who landed in Nelson in the ship Charles Forbes in 1842, and, after searching for a suitable locality in which to carve.out a home, eventually settled at. Appleby, where the late Mr John Best was "born together with his late "brother Robert, they being the rirst twin boys born in Nelson. It is mor thy of note that the attachment was inseparable. They lived together until the death of Mr Robert Best some live years ago. Mr joiin Best, being a great believer in Lne futility of the Appleby district lived and died almost only a storte's throw away from the place of his "birth. Apart from being a most successful farmer, he always took a keen interest in anything, that was for the welfaro of thc^ district. I For half his lifetime, without a break', he rendered able service as a meniDer of the Stoke Road Board. He was an I enthusiastic member of ihe Nelson Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and a keen competitor at its shows. For many years he served on the local School Committee, and he was a very old member of the Travellers' Rest Lod^e (Richmond) of The Manchester Unity Oddfellows. His kindly and cheerful disposition, together with his proverbial hospitality, endeared him -to everyone Avho. had occasion to visit his, home. Characteristic of the good old times, he believed-in keeping' the cradle full, having had a family, of six sons and seven daughters. Two of the sons answered the nation's call to 2uty. Percy, who left with the Third Reinforcements, and thus had four years' service, was permitted to return just in time to gladden the closing hours of a life well .spent. The other soldier son, Len, is still in England. Mr Best leaves a. -widow and eleven children to mourn the loss of a loving husband and worth v father.