OBITUARY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10181, 17 December 1927, Page 1

OBITUARY.

STEPHEN THOMAS SMITH

Another of the fast-diminishing band of early pioneers passed awayon December 5, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs G. Reynist, Otipua road, Timaru, at the ripe old age of 96 years, in the person of Mr Stephen Thomas Smith. The late Mr Smith was born at Marlborough, in Wiltshire, England, in 1832, and was educated at Dacre College, afterwards being articled to a surveyor. He left with his parents for New Zealand in the barque “Steadfast,” in 1851, and shortly after arrival left his parents in New Zealand and took part in the rush to the Bendigo diggings which occurred in that year. After spending five years at the goldfields he returned to New Zealand in the ship “Mumford.” After landing at Lyttelton, he travelled by bullock wagon to Kaiapoi. Christchurch at that time was a flax swamp and a mass of niggerheads. He fanned at Kaiapoi for some years before he went to South Canterbury, where he married Fanny, daughter of the late Mr Henry, of Newport Bladou,Oxfordshire, the officiating clergyman being the late Rev. James Preston, of St. Mary’s, Geraldine, a fellow-worker of deceased at Bendigo. Mr Smith occupied the position of clerk at the McKenzie Timber Mills for- some time, and for many yea'rs was engaged in pit sawing at Woodbury, and later with Mr R. Taylor in the Raukapuka bush. Het also took part in various gold diggings in New Zealand. After his retirement, he lived on the Woodbury road, Geraldine. The late Mr Smith was a man of a retiring nature, and never took any active part in public affairs. He had a family of four sons and flva daughters. His youngest son, Richard, was killed in the Great War, and his second youngest, Robert, died during the 1918 influenza epidemic. His wife predeceased him thirteen years ago. Those still living are; Mrs Reynist (Timaru), Mis W. G. Shexratt and Mrs L. P. Scott (Raukapuka, Geraldine), Mrs A. J. Irvine (Orari Bridge), Mrs B. Donovan ((Christchurch), Mr W. ■' G. Smith (Raukapuka), and Mr H. S. Smith (Geraldine). The body was brought to Geraldine from Timaru on Wednesday, and was interred in the Geraldine Cemetery, Archdeacon Purchas, Vicar of St. Mary’s, conducting the burial service.