PASSING OF A PIONEER

Waikato Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 1892, 17 April 1917, Page 5

PASSING OF A PIONEER

DEATH OP MR A. J. STOREY. OLD WAIKATO RESIDENT.

Widespread regret will 'be felt throughout the whole of the South Auckland District at the removal by death of Mr Arthur James Storey, one of the best known and most respected business men in Hamilton. Mr Storey had been,closely identified with the Waikato from his early boyhood/and held a reputation for integrity and uprightness which is enjoyed by few. As managing, director of the Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company, he won and maintained the implicit confidence of the farming.community, and his death will leave a gap which will be exceedingly hard to fill. Of a kindly and sympathetic temperament, he was always anxious to help along a struggling farmer, and never was he known to hamper a man whom he was satisfied was trying to ‘ 1 make good, ’’ and both ty his advice and more tangible tokens of sympathy he has assisted many a man in this district to surmount the initial difficulties of settlement, and mount the ladder towards a competence. Naturally quiet and of unobtrusive demeanour, he did not, apart from the affairs of the company, participate in the public life of the community; but he had a comprehensive grasp of both public and municipal affairs, and he was ever ready to give the benefit of his ripe judgmnet to all who sought it. He did not allow prejudice to warp h/s mind, and he never expressed an opinion . without considering the matter from every viewpoint. Mr Storey was an enthusiastic and thorough 1 sportsman in every sense of the term, and in his earlier days ranked amongst the most prominent gentlemen riders in the Province. He was also an energetic member of the South' Auckland Racing Club for a considerable number of years, and when the affairs of the Club were in a somewhat parlous state, he took the secretaryship, and did much to guide the institution into smoother waters He was subsequently elected to the presidency of the Club. He was also a keeh polo player—in fact he entered into every kind of sport which required a.display' of horsemanship, for he was a lover of the horse, and few could eclipse* his judgment concerning the merits of the equine, and his services were freqeuntly requisitioned as a judge for this class of stock at various agricultural and pastoral shows. Mr Storey was a son of Mr C. J. Storey, of Woodstock, Te Awamutu and was born 3ust 49 years ago at Tamaki. He came to Waikato with his parents in 1873. At the age of 17 he entered the service of Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons, the well-known firm of auctioneers, for whom he conducted his first sale as an auctioneer on December 3rd, 1887. When the late Mr John McNicol took , over the Waikato business of the firm, Mr Storey continued with him, and assisted Mr McNicol to largely extend operations. When Mr McNicol died (9th April, 1893.) Mr Storey carried on the business as his executor', and subsequently purchased it and ran it on his own account under the old name of McNicol aiid Co. Later on, when a movement was started amongst farmers for the formation of a Fanners’ Auctioneering Company, negotiations were oepned with Mr Storey for the acquirement of his business. The - negotiations proved successful, and the Farmers’ Cooperative Auctioneering Company were fortunate in securing a firmly estabi lished and lucrative business on generous terms. Mr Storey was appointed managing director, and in that capacity he devoted all his business acumen and energy in building up and extend* ing the business of the company, until to-day it stands as a monument to his enterprise and foresight, as one of the most successful institutions/ of its kind in the Dominion. For some months past Mr Storey had been in very indifferent health, and dropsy developed. He had been under medical treatment for some time, undergoing several operations. This afforded him some relief, but the malady reasserted itself, and while it was hoped that the end would be delayed, it was recognised that an absolute euro was hopeless. Tha end, though not altogether unexpected, came somewhat suddenly, Mr Storey expiring on Saturday evening at his residence, River Road, Claudelands. Deceased leaves a -widow (a daughter of Mr John Primrose, Claudelands) but no family. The funeral left his late residence, Claudelands, for the Rangiaohia Cemetery, Te Awamutu, yesterday, and was largely attended by residents from all parts of the district, who assembled to do honour to the memory of an old and respected friend.