A STERLING CITIZEN.

Wairarapa Age, 22 August 1934, Page 5

A STERLING CITIZEN.

THE LATE MB. H. J. O’LEARY.

COUNCILLORS PAY TRIBUTE TO VALUED COLLEAGUE.

Sympathetic references to the death of Councillor H. J. O’Leary, and an acknowledgment of his many years of faithful service on the council, were made by the Mayor, Mr. T. Jordan, and councillors at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council. A motion of sympathy was carried in sil- ' ence.

Mr. Jordan said that since the last meeting they had lost their senior councillor, the late Mr. O’Leary. Councillor O’Leary had been senior member in years and in length of service. He was elected to the council in 1911 and had held office continuously up to the time of his death. “All had found him,” observed Mr. Jordan, “frank, outspoken and straightforward—a councillor who never spoke merely for the sake of saying something. Always good humoured, his kindliness and keen solicitude for those in trouble were his outstanding characteristics. I had been closely associated with him for 14 years and never remember him saying an unkind word to anyone.” ’The late Councillor O’Leary, added Mr Jordan, had suffered greatly prior to his death, but he (Mr. Jordan) had never known a more patient or more courageous sufferer. At no time did he utter any whimper or complaint. Councillors had lost a good friend, said Mr. Jordan in moving that appreciation of the late Mr. O’Leary’s long and faithful service to the Borough be placed on record and that the council extend its deep sympathy' to the and family in their bereavement. In seconding the motion, Councillor W. Kemp said that one of the late Councillor O’Leary’s greatest virtues was his cheerfulness, even in times of distress.

Councillor C. H. Anderson, who said he had known the late Mr. O’Leary for 34 years, considered that not only the*council but the community had lost a valuable citizen. Tn the death of Mr. O’Leary, observed Councillor J. R. Barr, the workers of Masterton in particular had lost ti true friend.

Councillor A. D. Low said that the late Mr. O’Leary was a splendid committeeman, always genial arid splendidly sensible. Councillors W. H. Judd, W. L. Free, Trevor Beetham and H. M. Peacock also added their tributes to the worth of the late Mr. O’Leary.