OBITUARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 11021, 11 September 1897, Page 2

OBITUARY.

THE LATE MR JOSEPH HART. Gradually the ranks of tbo very early settlers of Taranaki are being thinned, tbe latest to pass away into '' the great beyond" being Mr Joseph Hart, who died on September 3rd at the residence of his daughter, Mrs John Putt, sen., at Moturoa, at the ripe old age of 91. Mr Hart was a native of tho parish of Woodleigh, Devonshire, and camo to Now Zealand in the Timandra, landing at New Plymouth on February 24th, 1842. Among his fellow passengers were many well - known settlers, some of whom still survive. In the lißt of the passengers by that vessel the names of Andrews, Allen, Barrib.tll, Brooking, Bishop, Crann, Clure, Dovenish, Flight, Hawke, Harrison, Hooker, Joll, Jordan, I^overidge, Marsh, Pollew, S?im?on, Suiith,Spurdle, Ward, Wills, nnH others occur. Since that time, over fifty-five years ago, Mr Hart has resided continuously in Taranaki, with the exception of occasional visits to Canterbury, where he had two sons The deceased gentleman, whose wife died 48 years ago, left a very large number of descendants, running into the fourth generation. Ha had six children, four sons and two daughters. Tho latter are Mrs John Putt, sen., and Mrs Samuel Rogers, of Bell Block, while the sons are Mr Joseph Hart, of Okato, Mr Robert Hart, of Ne*v Plymouth, and two others resident in Christchurch. Of grandchildren there are 48, of great grandchildren 88, and of great great grandchildren 2, a total of 144 descendants. On Sunday last he was carried to his laßt resting place by six grandsons, followed by a number of other grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a large number of friends of the family, who assembled to pay their last tribute of respect to a worthy old sottler. Despite his great age, up to quito recently Mr Hart was in good health and faiily active. His last visit to town was on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee Demonstration, when he took a lively interest in the proceedings.