THE PASSING OF A PIONEER

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 3 February 1925, Page 5

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER

CHARLES WILSON. By the death of Mr Charles Wilson, which took place this morning at his residence, Parsonage Road, Wairnate has lost one of its oldest residente, his age being nearly 83. The deceased came to Waimate in the early days and erected several of the saw-mills in the bush, but these were destroyed in ’Jie bush fire which devastated the district. He then took up contracting, and built very many of the early bridges. A man of vigorous mind, he early saw the advantage of iron and concrete, and helped to introduce these permanent materials, to the lasting benefit of the district. Of late years Mr Wilson has lived in retirement filing health being lightened for himself and his devoted wife by the constant thoughtfulness of old friends. The late Mr Wilson was born in Ballymena, Ireland, of an old landholding family which has given yeoman service to the Empire during the past 250 years. It was his cousin who saved Queen Victoria’s life from the attack of a madman and who was afterwards Colonel in command of the Household Cavalry (Blues) in the late war and A.D.C. to Sir Robert Baden-Powell during the South African War. Members of the family have been distinguished in exploration in Palestine and the Valley’ of the Euphrates and the pioneering spirit led others to take a large part in the early history of Victoria and New South Wales. The late Sir Samuel Wilson, uncle of Mr C. Wilson, was for years a member of the House of Commons and published several works on his hobby of fish culture. The late Mr Wilson leaves a widow and a grown-up family of five (Mrs Ivor Williams Wanganui and Messrs C. A. Wilson and D. Wilson Auckland; G. Wilson, Los Angeles; and Mr Harold Wilson, Oamaru. There are numerous grandchildren.