MR JAMES MOOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17575, 27 June 1925, Page 23 (Supplement)

MR JAMES MOOR.

he went along to see if all was well, when he called them by name they would scamper away from the other horses and come over to him. and listen while he spoke and patted them, while they made every effort to show that they understood him and return the greetings. I remember one afternoon I had a good laugh at him, but it afterwards proved that the laugh was on his side. I was standing by Lane's Mill. Moor had just passed me, sitting on his water cart, when the fire bell pealed out. The horse stopped dead in the centre of the road, arid before X could reach him Moor was on the road. He had the harness undone, the shafts down and was in the act of pulling the saddle, etc., off, while the horse was turning round and stood close to the cart to let Moor jump on his back. But for some reason Moor was a little tardy and the horse bounded off without dr-m. and then the onlookers had a. good ■ laugh. But Moor shouted at the top of his voice “ Come here.” The horse stopped, turned round and stood up beside the cart again. Moor jumped on i and oft they went at double quick time, and as he flew through space he took off his hat and waved it to those ■ behind him. Some time later when we were talking over that event he said : “ There you see how dumb animals will repay you for whatever kindness you 1 show to them.” Readers take note. 1 If my memory serves me right James 1

Moor was the first to drive the horses attached to the first chemical engine to arrive in Christchurch; in fact, the first in New Zealand. He also at >le time drove the horse of the Extinguisher steam engine. This engine, too, was the first to arrive in New Zealand. It came t<* Christchurch on fanuarv 24, 1865. I was foreman of the Extinguisher when I left the brigade. "Jimmy” Moor, as he was familiarly called, was a real good-hearted man, not only kind to his horses, but he was kind I and considerate to all he came in contact with. I have often known him to ! make a sacrifice when it was to benefit j ethers. He thought a lot of his daugh- ! ter. I remember many years ago we ' were having a quiet chat to ourselves. When I asked him why he did not get married again he shook his head and said; “No. I could not do it; I think too much of my girlie. She had a good mother but we lost her. I will never put a stepmother over her as long as I live.” That resolve he carried out to his end. During my time his girl grew up to womanhood, and whiL her father

was yet a fireman she' married E. J. Bryan, a butcher, and a good wife and helpmate she was to him, and I am quite sure there arc many scores who will remember her broad and cheerful face as she served in their shop opposite Kent's cycle and plating works in Victoria Street, a little south of the present < 'arlt-on Butchery, while her husband attended to the outside part of their business. But soon great trouble I and sorrow came to her married life. She had three, children, but lost them j all. One died at six months, another 'at eighteen months and the third at i two and a half years old. It wo t'd seem as if fate was against her. Her grief, great as it must have been, did not stop at the loss of her children, for shortly after she lost her husband. He died about fifteen years ago. This last shock must have been like the last straw to her already great burden of sorrow. It bore her down, and about i nine years ago she passed away and 1 joined her husband and children in realm where troubles arc no more, and left her good old father to mourn h s loss. After James Moor left the City Council's employ he lived in retirement, but ,after his son-in-law's death he assisted It is daughter in the. business, and so continued till her death, .and, although , he continued to live on the property. I am told he only had a life interest in the business. I have no doubt there ; ore many who remember the old gentleman standing in front of the shop from time to time for some years back. I never knew him to take part in public matters except the C.V.F.B. lie was of a reserved nature, but always ready to give, a helping hand or do a good turn when it was possible for him to do I understand he was a Freemason j and every inch an Orangeman, and , above all I have always known him to I be an honourable, conscientious and God-fearing man. He was for fittvi eight years a widower, and in that star .- : he remained to the day of his decease on May 30, 1925. in his ninetieth year. That he was held in high estimation by a large number of people was shown bv the large number of beautiful wreaths that were sent by those who wished to show their appreciation of his honourable life, and their sorrow for the loss of a generous spirit that 1 had gone for all time, and further by -•the large number of cars containing an ] assemblage of people who wished t > ! pav their last respects by following all : that remained of James Moor to h-s ! last resting place in the Bromley Cemetery on June 3. 1925.