DEATH OF MR JOLL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 2

DEATH OF MR JOLL.

Per Press Association. Wellington, Friday. Ml'. T. L. Joll, the well-known Tura naki resident who received serious injury to his head through jumping back- 1 wards off a train in motion 011 Master Monday, died in the hospital shortly be-' : fore nine o'clock this morning, THE INQUEST. Wellington, Last Night, I At the impicst on Mr. T. Langdon -Toll, of Okaiawa, who died to-day 110 m injuries sustained by a fall from an electric tram car oii Easter Monday, the medical evidence showed that death was the result of meningitis, following on fracture of the skull. Philip Myers, who knew deceased personally and was travelling with him ' on the car, said Mr. Joll jumped out as the car neared Woodward street in the direction opposite to which the ear was going. He fell heavily on his head. The ear had not stopped, and was going at from five to six miles an hour. Witness did not think Mr. .Toll rang the bell, lie simply got up and walked off the ear as if it were Witness said nothing Hint would indicate carelessness on the part of the motorman nr conductor of the car. Mr. .Toll wits probably thinking of something else. ■Kid just walked out of Ihe ear. After lKMruir rui-thm- .•vlilenee. the jure retunii'd a verdict in arcoi'ihui'','' ' with the medical testimony, and found * no blame attachable to anybody.

The news, says the Hawera Star, will come as a very great shock ( to the majority of people in the district, because the early telegrams spoke very confidentally of an improvement, which I raised hopes that he would recover; but evidently a change set in, for on Thursday afternoon it was known that Jt private telegram had been received stating that he was sinking. From the outset, by those who knew the nature of the injuries sustained, it had been said that recovery was impossible; but Mr. -Toll's splendid constitution, it was thought by most people, would give him a chance which a less robust man could not have, and while there was life there was hope. However, the worst fears have unfortunately been realised.

The untoward death of Mr. .Toll will 1 be tho occasion of very deep sorrow throughout Taranaki, and particularly in the southern part of the province, where he has lived so long and gained so prominent >a position, and there will he very general sympathy with his family and relations. He was one of those cheery, genial men ivhom it was a pelasure to know, and from his yout'n up he has been a general favorite. And with all his easy manners he was strenuous. The boy is father to the man. In his early days he could work Jiard and play hard. As with increasing business wider responsibilities came to rest on him his character came out. He always "played the game," but he was an excellent man of business. One of his strongest characteristic** was his power to judge men. He has put large numbers of men 011 farms and irusu'u them wholly, and lias made, tew mistakes. His business transactions, it is common knowledge, have been very considerable, and he has taken nianj risks, but we do not remember any ease in which there has come before the public a record of any dispute. He trusted and was trusted, and on both sides the trust has been justilied. Thomas Langdon Joll was the eldest son of the late Mr. Samuel Joll, and was sli years of age. His father arrived in New Zealand by one of the first ships to arrive in New Plymouth, probably the third which came to an anchor in February of 1842. Old 'identities remember well both Mr. Samuel

J oil and also his father in New Plymouth. The former married Miss Jonas, and there were either twelve or thirteen children. Mr. T. L. Joll received the little education there wag then available in New Plymouth. He was an athlete of considerable merit, and played foohall for the province about the year 1887. llis earlier life was Spent in contracting, and he came to South Taranaki before the Plains were opened up. He accepted road work and general heavy work, and it was no unusual sight for him to be out early and late with bullock teams. Later on he purchased the OUaiawa store, and there it was probably thai his lirst ideas of the dairying industry arose. It was the usual custom to purchase butter from farmers' wives, generally paying uDout 3d per lb, which, however, was to be taken out in goods, A small factory was one day opened ton the site of the present Okaiawa factory, and butter was made on a very small scale. Gradually—very gradually the business extended and a number of outlying creameries were established, Hie first being on the Skcec road. l<rom that the progress has probably oecu more rapid, and the development of 'business in connection with it very considerable. Jn in answer to tht wish of suppliers, he built a cheese iactory at Kapuni, and last year he erected up-to-dale factories at most of his creameries a t an expenditure of about £IOI,OOO.

There is nut the slightest doubt out that Mr. Joli's death will have a very far-reaching effect. It is the business in connection with the factory in which this will be most seriously felt. Among the more self-contained of men, he rarely told anyone his business, and it is the general belief in the country that he parried a great deal of it entirely in 'nis head. In connection with finance, it was his custom to tell a man to airange with an agent to buy a certain place, and lie would arrange later. This has been done during the present season It is also well known that he dealt with a great number of people solely as the result of his idea of them at a glance, a poor man had equal chance the want of money, it is understood being little hindrance provided that he could work. Iff- Jolt was universal],. looked upon as a White" man in the truest and fullest acceptance 0 f the term, with to operatye companies w i t h w hom he oilferal into competition there were at times strained relations, but almost to a man the directors were agreed lhal Mi. .101 l was a straight, dean man. 01 Ills kindly acts there are numbers i n the h v p -T^ ab, T I,pon his E i widely circulated. One we otlier<t °r f i l ' " but a of fcw n Purchasing clause In a liiise which had run out, l mt ,i, l"huo to" te n Mr " j0 " alloW,!d tn '-ecnie operative. This made no'^'^tr"^ men , His W ifo a Miss News],.™, alfd |l< with one son (B r „oo), aged 16, „ r( , ft lo mourn their loss. i\r- M,'.. h sin, iiv in#r „i wi I .S. ntmieious brothers and Sistej