DEATH OF MR. C. J. BELCHER

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1930, Page 10

DEATH OF MR. C. J. BELCHER

A PIONEER OF RAWHITIROA.

NOTED CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE

The death occurred suddenly at Egmont Village on Saturday morning of Mr. Charles Belcher, Rawhitiroa, one of the best-known and most highly-respect-ed public men in Taranaki. Mr. Belcher; who was 73 years of age, went to Egmont Village on Tuesday to spend a few days with his son, Mr. R. J. Belcher. About nine o’clock he had a heart attack, from which he appeared to make a good recovery. About an hour later, when about to proceed to : New Plymouth with his daughter-in-law, he had another attack, from which he succumbed almost immediately. For over a quarter of a century Mr. Belcher played a very prominent part in public life in Taranaki. Born at Farthinghoe near Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, in 1856, he came to New Zealand over 40 years ago and settled in the Wairarapa, where his wife, nee Miss Elizabeth Marion Fathers, and their three young children, joined him a year later. In 1898 he moved to Taranaki, taking up a bush section at Rawhitiroa where he had resided since. By hard work and perseverance he overcome the hardships and difficulties of pioneering life and successfully converted his section into the fine homestead that it is to-day. He was a man of irreproachable character and honesty of purpose, his sterling qualities winning him many friends in public and private life. He certainly took his full share of the burden of public life having been a member of the, Eltham County Council for 22 years and chairman for 13 years. He was elected a member of the District Highways Council when that body was constituted. For four years he was a member of the Egmont National Park Board. He took a very active part in the constitution of the Taranaki Power Board, having been chairman of the committee leading up to its constitution and he was also a member of the board for over two years. For over 20 years he was a director of the Eltham Dairy Company, and for 11 years he was a director of the Taranaki Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Association, being chairman of that body at the time of hig death. He was for several years a director of the Taranaki Producers’ Freezing Company as well as of other concerns. He was also chairman of the Taranaki Local Bodies Association.

Two or three years ago, owing to failing health, Mr. Belcher resigned from some of those positions, and the esteem in which he was held was very strikingly exemplified 12 months ago, when, 1 on the occasion of his relinquishing the chairmanship of the Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association, he was publicly em tertained and presented with an illuminated address by that body and an enlarged photograph of himself by the Eltham County Council. At the time of his death he had practically 'retired from all local ■ activities, retaining the chairmanship of the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. Belcher is survived by his widow, five, sons an,d three 'daughters—W. J. Belcher (Suva, Fiji), H. C. (Rawhitiroa), C. A. (Eltham)-, L. F. (Rawhitiroa), R. J. (Egmont Village) and Mrs. A. H. Best (Eltham), Mrs. L. H. Pruden (Cheviot) and Miss E. M. Belcher (Rawhitiroa). .

■ The funeral will take place at Eltham to-day, leaving All Saiiits’ Church at 2 p.m; .