OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1926, Page 11

OBITUARY.

MONSIGNOR WALSHE. Westport, Dec. 11. Tlie death took place early this morning at O’Connor Home, of Monsignor Walshe, 83 years of age, the oldest ordained priest in the Dominion, after an attack of bronchitis. A native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, he arrived in New Zealand 62 years ago. He came out with Bishop Pompalier as a student and was ordained by that bishop with the late Monsignor O’Reilly, of Thames, at the age of 23. He was then transferred to the West Coast. He has been in charge of the Westport parish for 56 years and resigned six years ago on account of illhealth. He celebrated his diamond jubilee as a priest last February. ADAM HENDERSON. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The death has occurred of Mr. Adam Henderson, aged 95 years, a pioneer shipbuilder. The late Mr. Henderson was born at Sunderland, England, and served a long apprenticeship in a dockyard before joining a vessel as carpenter. At the age of 20 he was a member of the crew of the ship Phoenix, engaged in carrying stores to the Crimea during the Crimean War. He was later at Constantinople when peace was declared, and up to the time of his death he had very vivid recollections of the celebrations in that city when the war cloud lifted. After several years at sea, Mr. Henderson came to New Zealand. On November 5, 1858, in company with his wife, he arrived at Auckland on the barque Harwood, commanded by Captain Forsyth. Mr. Henderson played his part in the early struggles of the young colony and the Maori War period found him in the naval volunteers at the Miranda Redoubt and later at Thames. When conditions became more or less stabilised following the conclusion of the war, with his partner, the late Mr. Spraggon, lie established a shipyard at Smale’s Point, where the old Auckland Graving dock stood. The business soon won a leading position in Auckland. After Mr. Spraggon’s death in 1898, Mr. Henderson carried on the business, but retired from active participation at the age of 75, leaving his son in control. A number of fine vessels hare been turned out by the firm, notably the famous schooner Pacific, Sea Breeze, Ocean, Jubilee and Hikurangi. For the first 17 years of his life in New Zealand, Mr. Henderson lived in the city, first in Princes Street and then in Vincent Street, which, however, was at that time only a street on the plans of the town, in 1875 he moved to Devonport and has resided there ever since. Mrs. Henderson passed away 15 years ago. There are three sons and three daughters living, as well as 27 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchil-dren. Mr. Henderson regularly attended the Sunday service at the Devonport Methodist Chureh, and took an active interest in the affairs of the circuit, as he did in the affairs of the Pitt Street Church nearly 59 years ago. He was a member of the first Band of Hope founded in England. He has been a consistent temperance man since the age of 14 and was a non-smoker for the past 30 years.