OBITUARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 137, 11 June 1937, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR JAMES HARRIS AN OLD IDENTITY OF SANDON PASSES (From our own Correspondent) SANSON, June 10. The death of Mr James Harris removes a respected settler of many years standing from the Sandon district. As a youth he went to Sandon from the Hutt with his parents in the early seventies of last century. With the exception of a short period during which he resided in Palmerston North, Mr Harris had lived continuously on the property originally secured by members of the Hutt Small Farm Association. As boy and man he took an active part in all the varying undertakings incidental to pioneering in a new district, and in the course of his 76 years had stored up a wonderful collection of reminiscences of happenings before and since his arrival in the Manawatu. In 1887 Mr Harris took for his life’s partner a daughter of Mr Thomas Sanson and thereby forged a happy and permanent link with another original family whose name is inseparably associated with the village bearing that name. Throughout the years the union has been one of the happiest, and preparations were in train for the celebration of their golden wedding in August. A striking personality, Mr Harris was widely known for his straightforward honesty of purpose in all his business undertakings. He was essentiality a farmer, and concentrated his energies on the cultivation of his land and the well-being of his stock rather than in actively participating in the administration of public affairs. The well-known homestead was typical of the open-handed generosity of the olden days where all were welcomed and no appeal for assistance in a worthy cause was disregarded. Athletics and outdoor games of all descriptions always received his cordial support, whilst he himself was a well-known performer with the rifle and fowling piece. Mr and Mrs Harris were enrolled amongst the first scholars of the Sandon School in 1872. and were later foundation members of the Sandon Old Boys’ Association, 32 years ago, and have always shown a lively interest in its welfare; at the time of his death Mr Harris was the oldest surviving pupil, and patrol of the association. The funeral took place on Monday, May 31. 'Besides his widow, the surviving members of the family are Mr J. N. Harris (Sanson). Mesdames A. Pedersen (Ohakea), G. R. Kilsby (Tiritea), A. Honore (Tiritea), L. A. J. Henson (Mount Stewart), and L. W. Staite (Sanson), and ten grandchildren, vo all of whom the. sincerest sympathy has been extended.