DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM EMIA, OF PUTIKI

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1946, Page 4

DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM EMIA, OF PUTIKI

A LIFETIME OF SERVICE

The death occurred last night, at his residence, Putiki, of Mr. William Emia, leading figure in native life in Wanganui for many years.- Aged 55 years, Mr. Emia had been in ill-health for the past live months, three of

which he had spent in the Wanganui Hospital. His death is a great blow to the Maori people of the district, whom he advised, and assisted, and in whose welfare he was always concerned.

A descendant of the Ngapiapa tribe, Mr. Emia was a well-known public figure in Wanganui, being a member of the Rotary Club, Heritage Movement, and also an executive of the Wanganui Returned Services Association for many years. A carpenter by trade, Mr. Emia, after returning from World War I, entered the Native Department in Wanganui, in which he held the position of building supervisor at the time of his death. Besides taking a prominent part in public affairs in the community, Mr. Emia was a continual worker for the Church, and was recently ordained a lay reader of the Putiki Church by Bishop Bennett. During World War II Mr. Emia was one of the first to offer his’services to his country. He joined the National Military Reserve and became a sergeant in the 11th (Wanganui) company, which later, under Major J. P. Wells, was mobilised when Japan entered the war. Sergeant Emia was given the position of platoon sergeant in charge of the Maori platoon which was formed in the 2nd Battalion, Wellington West Coast Regiment, and his tact and leadership won for him a very high place in the regard of his superior officers.

He leaves a •widow, his two sons having died while he was serving in the armed fo ces in the 1914-18 war.