OBITUARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10656, 3 July 1896, Page 2

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF Mr THOMAS VEALE. Another of our oldest and most respected settlers passed away «n Thursday morning. The late Mr Thomas Veale was born in the village of Clawton, North Devon, in May, 1823, and had therefore entered his seventy-fourth year. On March 25th, 1841, he, with his parents and other members of tho family, togother with a largo number of Holdsworthy folk, with the late- Captain King, R.N., at their head, sailed in the good ship Amelia Thompson for their new and distant , home in New .Zealand, at that time a perfect terra incognitaOn arrival here the family followed farms ing pursuits at Mangaraoka,,till the native, turned the settlers off tbe land about 1845. Mr T. Veale after this took up i land for himself on the Fiankley Road, and lived there till the outbreak of the war in 1860. Mr Yeale was at this time married. . When hostilities broke out Mr Veale, in common with others, had to leave his farm and come to town, and take an active part in quelling the rebellion. Mr Veale was a member of the Taranaki Militia, which body did most serviceable work during the war. About this period Mr Veale Buffered a terrible calamity, losing all but one of Ms large family through an epidemic of diphtheria, which was brought on by the insanitary stata of the town. When the war was ended Mr Veale took up his residence in town, and remained a citizen till the day of his death. Mr Veale was a consistent member of the Wesleyan body for over 50 years, and was noted for his integrity and upright conduct by all with whom he came in contact. He also represented the f aranaki district at several Wesleyan Conferences. Mr Yo»le was also elected to the first Town Board of New Plymouth in 1863, and when the town was incorporated as a borough he w,as elected to the Council. The deceased was also one of tho founders of tho New Plymouth Friendly Society, of which body he was honorary treasurer for over 30 years. Mr Voale leaves one daughter, Mrs Allan Douglas, his wife having died some years ago. The funeral of tho deceased gentleman takes place on Sunday, at 2.30 o'clock.