OBITUARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16895, 17 November 1920, Page 2

OBITUARY.

HENRY WESTON, Mr. Henry Weston, whose death, on Tuesday morning it was our melancholy" duty to record in our last issue, was the fourth son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Weston, and came to New Plymouth with his parents and brothers in 1851. He was born in Loudon in April, 1838, and was therefore in his eignty-third year at the time of his death. After spending his youth on his father’s farm at Omata he joined his elder brother in business in New Plymouth. On or about November 8, 1887, he acquired the Taranaki Herald, of which he remained sole proprietor until his death, ,aud with the conduct of which he has been more or less actively associated during the whole of that long period. Outside of this Mr. Weston devoted much time and 'thought to public and semi-public affairs. He was a member of the first New Plymouth Harbour Board elected in 1875, and in that capacity wak very closely associated with Mr. Thomas Kelly in the raising of the first harbour loan of £200,000 in 1880. The construction and development of the harbour was a matter in winch lie always took the keenest interest and few men have done mote to further those objects/than he. Eor many years he was one of the Harbour Loan Sinking Fund Commissioners. Only two or three weeks ago he resigned the position" of vico-presideiit of the New Plymouth Savings Bank, which he had occupied for many years. The New Plymouth Investment and Loan Society was another financial institution' with Which he was actively associated as a director and for a long period as chairman. In all of tliese positions his sound financial judgment was of great service and very highly valued by those who shared - the duties and responsibilities with him. He "was one of the oldest Justices of the Peace in Taranaki, having been appointed on April 23, 1874, and up to the time of his death he was a Visiting Justice to the Now Plymouth gaol, the duties of which office he had discharged faithfully and conscientiously over a long period of years. He never took, an active part in local politics, though his interest in all matters affecting the development and progress of the town and district was always .keen and 'at the same time unselfish,. and such influence as he was able to exert through his paper or otherwise was ever cast upon the side of what he deemed to be just and in the truest interests of the public. In all crises in the history of the town and district, in aH. 'times of difficulty or stress, he was among the first to come forward with assistance and good counsel., Always, his first thought was for the good of the place. , The present writer has been more closely associated with Mr. Weston than anyone, for that association extended over a period of 35 years and was practically daily, therefore he is perhaps better able than any to pen an appreciation of one who has ever been more than a friend. Never was there a more generous or more considerate employer, than Mr. Henry Weston towards those who served him faithfully and well and who had' secured his confidence. His invariable kindness and thoughtfulness, especially in time of trouble, earned the affectionate regard of those who were fortunate enough to be in his service and there are many sore hearts to-day among them, for they have lost a kind friend as well as a generous employer. In all public matters and in the influence he, was able to s exert through his newspaper Mr. Weston was invariably guided by a high sense of honour and integrity. In private life, if we may for a moment draw aside the veil, he was in the best sense of the word a gentleman, refined in his tastes and habits, with a rare charm of manner, whose intimacy it was a genuine "privilege to . enjoy. Though advancing years have latterly enforced a life of' comparative retirement he never ceased to take the keenest and kindliest interest in all that went on around him, and it may truly bo said of him that New Plymouth, indeed Taranaki, has, through his death, lost one of its' best and truest friends. A strong and true guiding influence for all that was best has been severed. One of Mr. Weston’s latest acts of generosity and thoughtfulness was the erection of a stone wall and memorial lych-gate on the eastern front of St. Mary’s churchyard, in which peaceful God’s acre his remains will he laid toTest by the side of his father and mother on Thursday morning.