A MARTON PIONEER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 209, 4 September 1943, Page 4

A MARTON PIONEER

MR. MICHAEL MARR’S DEATH

One o£ the earliest settlers of MarI ton, Mr. Michael Marr, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday night at the age of 95. Mr. Marr was born in County Wicklow, about 16 miles from Dublin, in 1849, and subsequently left London for . Melbourne in the ship Australia. His family later travelled in the brig I Shamrock, to Wellington, where they arrived in February, 1856. In the following month they came to Wanganui in the schooner Mary Thompson. After a period in Wanganui they moved to Lake Alice, Rangitikei, a property at that time managed by Mr. Hugh Ross, father of the late Major Ross, of Marton. Mr. Marr went to Marton in 1871 and had resided ever since. For 30 years before the advent ol motor transport, he conducted a carrying business in Marton. Mr. Marr was a familiar figure a Feilding, Wanganui, Marton, Rangitikei and Waverley racecourses as a seller of “krect cards,” a calling he started at the Rangitikei races in January, 1888. Mr. Marr took a great interest in racing, having trained and ridden many winners in the early days. The surviving members of his family are three daughters, Mrs. W. Woodham (Palmerston North), Mrs. C. J. Powell (Hunterville) and Mrs. D. Abel (Auckland), and two sons, Messrs. W. F. and S. C. Marr (Marton). The funeral will take place this afternoon for St. Stephen’s cemetery, Mount View, Marton. All ex-servicemen are invited to attend the funeral of the late Lieut. Michael Marr (Royal Rangitikei Rifles) and Maori War veteran this afternoon.