Obituary.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 5684, 7 March 1911, Page 3

Obituary.

Our Waipukurau correspondent writes : —Although the death of the Hon. W. O. Smith was hourly expected the past few days, quite a gloom was oast over the township when the news went forth that he had passed away. He was a liberal patron of the various institutions and olub3 condeoted with the town and district. His kind generosity also brought him into contact with maDy others. As a citizen bo will be missed and the sincere sympathy of tho publio generally io extended to Mrs Smith and family in their bereavement.

The Hon. W. O. Smith, who passed away at his residence at Waipukurau on Sunday, at the age cf 67 joars, was iu business as a storekeeper in that town for many years. For several years he was Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Counoil. Ho serve 1 for many years as chairman of the Waipawa County Council aod other looal bodies, doing good work for the settlers in many directions. In 1881 be was e'ected ns member for Waipawa in tbo House of Representatives, defeating the Hon. J. D. Ormond, after a very sharp and exciting contest. Mr Smith continued to represent Waipawa for fifteen sessions, until he retired iu 1894, th ough ill health. For three years Mr Smith acted as whip for the Ballance Government, aud did exce’lent service to his party. In 1895 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, and has since continued to take an aotivo part in local politics in Hawke’s Bay. The remains were interred in tho Waipukurau Cemetery, this afternoon, in tho presence of a large assembly.