NOTED PIONEER PASSES

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1929, Page 7

NOTED PIONEER PASSES

MARCUS JOHN MacREYNOLDS A FULL AND INTERESTING LIFE. MEMBER OF THE A.C. FORCES. (From Our Opunake Correspondent.) The passing away of the late Marcus John Macßeynolds on Sunday at the age of 79 years removed from our midst a notable pioneer. It was not so much his public career that made him an outstanding personality as it was his benevolent disposition and lovable character. He took a deep interest in his neighbours, being ever kind and considerate, and keeping in touch with the family life of the people. All children called him “Dad Mae.” Born in the county of Derry, Ireland, as a young man he entered a commercial ■firm dealing in farm products, and came in contact with many eminent Irishmen. He sailed for New Zealand about 1873, and joined the military depot in Wellington as clerk, remaining in Wellington till 1879, when during the troublous days on the coast he came to Waihi (near Normanby) as clerk to No. 1 company of the A.C. Force, and in that capacity was known in all the military road-making camps under the late Col. Roberts and Paymaster Thomas Hempton. After the Parihaka military movements, No. 1 Company was stationed at Pungarehu. Subsequently the late Hon. John Bryce rearranged the military dispositions and the late Mr. MaeReynolds left the force and entered into business as storekeeper at Pungarehu, and from thence played a prominent part in the affairs of the community. He built the first school in that "district, and was the principal guarantor for the salary of the first teacher. He served for many years as secretary and chairman of the Pungarehu school committee. He was also a member- of the then Parihaka Road Board for several years, a member of the Egrnont County Council, and representative of that council on the Hawera Hospital Board, and later, when Egrnont was included in the Taranaki district, he was the council’s representative on the Taranaki Hospital Board. He was the prime mover in forming the Egrnont Nursing Association, and getting a trained nurse stationed at Opunake. He was president of the association for many years. He also make the first move towards getting a cottage hospital in Opunake, taking an option ever a private dwelling for that purpose, but the move was opposed by the inspector of hospitals and the chairman of the board. In 1904 deceased retired from" storekeeping in Pungarehu, and came to reside in Opunake. The coastal settlers, at a monster farewell in Pungarehu, presented Mr. and Mrs. Macßeynolds with a grand piano (still treasured by the family). Deceased then entered farming, taking up land on the Ihaia Road (°now farmed by. his eon Joseph), and himself and' family residing on a small farm on the Eltham Road. On the formation of the Opunake Harbour Board deceased was the first chairman. He took a great interest in the welfare of the Maoris, and was often consulted by the Government regarding Parihaka affairs. He was a close confidant of the late “prophets,” Tohu and Te Whiti. A man full of humorous ancedotes regarding early native and European affairs, he was always entertaining company. As a devout Catholic he will be a wreat loss to the local church and the district. His integrity and generosity were by words, and he was a splendid example of a practical, sincere Christian. He was instrumental in establishing the Catholic Church at Pungarehu and Okato, providing, in the former instance, the land for the building. The value of his work and spiritual influence in the Opunake Catholic Church would be hard to assess. Deceased was married in Hawera in the early ’eighties to Miss Mary Vaughton, who pre-deceased him 18 years ago. There are eight grown-up sons and daughters to mourn the loss of a fine parent namely, Thomas, Joseph and Leo; Misses Mary, Krthleen, Maggie, Annie and Philomena. With the exception of Thomas and Annie, all the members reside in Opunake. Your correspondent is indebted to Mr. A. McKeown (late Sergt. of the A.C. Force) and a life long associate of deceased, for assistance in writing the above.

At the meeting of the Egrnont County Council yesterday feeling reference was made by members to the loss the district had sustained through the death of Mr. Macßeynolds. The acting-chair-man (Cr. J. Young) stated that he had known Mr. Macßeynolds for 40 years, and the district owed a good deal to him, especially in the early days when, as a storekeeper, many settlers had benefited by his kindly actions. He had taken his full share of the public life of the district, having been a member of the Parihaka Road Board and one of the original members of the Egrnont County Council, as well as a member of the Taranaki and Hawera hospital boards and first chairman of the Opunake Harbour Board. A vote of condolence with the relatives was passed in silence.

The esteem and high regard in which Mr. Alacßeynolds was held throughout Taranaki and beyond was shown by the very large attendance, representative of every section of the community, that assembled to pay its last respects at the funeral yesterday, the cortege being the longest that has been seen in Opunake. Over 150 cars took part. A feature was the number of old identities of the coastal district present. Hosts of telegrams were received from many parts of New Zealand, and there were also many beautiful floral tributes. A requiem mass was celebrated at the Catholic Church, and prior to the cortege leaving for the Opunake cemetery a funeral service was held in the church, Father Kennedy, assisted by Father Dillon, officiating as they did also at the graveside. The children of the Convent school were lined up as the cortege moved off, and they followed to the cemetery.

Among the clergy present were Father Doolaghty, of Taihape, formerly Opunake parish priest, Fathers Alinogue, Barr-Brown and Henley, New Plymouth, Father Moore, Palmerston North, Father Bartley, S.M., Wanganui, and Father McManus, Redcinptist Father of Wellington. The bearers were Messrs. A. J. Brennan, Al. Condon, G. Barr-Brown, R. J. Alorris, AL Brophy and J. Hickey.