OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1923, Page 4

OBITUARY.

MR. W. F., BROOKING. OLD TARANAKI IDENTITY. The death of Mr. William Francis Brooking occurred at New Plymouth last evening at the age of 79. His death severs a link with the earjy davs of Taranaki, for Mr. Brooking had been for many years prominently identified with the activities of New Plymouth in a variety of pheres. Bom in London on June 11, 1844. Mr. Brooking was educated partly in Melbourne, Australia, and partly in Now Zealand, where he arrived in 1855? He settled in Tara-

naki, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, being manager of Mr. George’s business until the beginning of I'9BB. when he acquired a business of his own as builder and undertaker on the corner of Brougham and Powderham Streets.

During the Maori troubled of 1861-62, Mr. Brooking served with the No. 1 Militia and with bush parties, and was a member of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers until the Parihaka scare in 1881. He served as color-sergeant for many years, and rose to the rank of sub-lieu-tenant.

In public activities, Mr. Brooking took a' prominent part, being elected to the Ntw Plymouth Borough Council in 1896, a position he held with distinct credit for a number of years. As chairman of the public works committee of the council he was prominent in connection with the raising of the first loan of £6OOO for street lighting by electricity. At the time of his death Mr. Brooking was a director of the New Plymouth Sash and Door Factory, and chairman of the New Plymouth Investment and Loan Society. He was for a period chairman of the St. Mary's Anglican Church Trust Fund. i

In Masonic circles Mir. Brooking was mrticularly to the fore, being a mem>er of Lodge De Burgh Adams, 446, Irish Constitution, in connection with which he had passed all the ehairs. He was several times master of the lodge and was a brilliant exponent of Masonic ritual. He was installing-master for a

number of years, and held oflice as provincial grand lodge officer. Bowling was Mr. Brooking’s chief recreation. He was for several years president of the New Plymouth Club and was a prominent figure on the club’s greens, though advancing age caused him to relax his activities somewhat in this direction recently. He, however, still manifested a - keen interest in the welfare of the dub.

Mr. Brooking married a daughter of the late Mr. F. L. Brooking, of New Plymouth, in 1879. His wife survives mm, but he leaves no family.