OBITUARY.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16652, 18 November 1925, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR THOMAS PATERSON. EARLY WAIKATO COLONIST. Tiie death occurred at Ngaruawahia yesterday of an old and greatly respected resident of the Waikato, in the person of Mr Thomas Paterson, at the age of 807 The deceased gentleman was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1845, and migrated to New Zealand in 1870, eventually settling in the Waikato four years later, lie was employed as an accountant by the Waikato Steam Navigation Company at Ngaruawahia, some years later leaving for Auckland to join his brothers in the firm of Patcr7 sron and Company,' coach proprietors and grain merchants. In about 1893, the late Mr Paterson returned to Ngaruawahia to take up farming, and has resided there ever since, excepting for a short period when he revisited Scotland. The deceased gentleman took a prominent part in local politics, and for many years was a member of the Waikato County Council, the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Kirlkiriroa Road Board, and was for 23 years clerk to the Ngaruawahia Town Board. He had been lion, treasurer to the Ngaruawahia Regatta Association sjnee its inception, nearly 30 years ago.* He was the first president of the Ngaruawahia Bowling Club, and later hon. treasurer of that body. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, was actively connected with several other organisations of a public nature, and for 22 years officiated as a Justice of the Peace. At the time of his death the late Mr Paterson was a director of the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company, and a member of the Central Power Board. Despite his advanced- years lie retained his faculties until the end, and up till a few days prior to his death took the same keen interest in public affairs as marked his earlier days. He insisted in fact or. going down to ihe polling booth to record his vote at the recent elections. The late Mr Paterson married Miss Isabella McDonald in 1873, but she pre-deceased him .17 years ago. There were eight .children of the marriage, some of whom are, however, dead. Those present living arc Messrs W. M. Paterson, A. Paterson, and T. Paterson, ail of Ngaruawhaia, and Mr R. R. Paterson, of Hamilton, and Mrs F. Gcrmann, or Hinuera, and Mrs A. L. Pegler, of Raglan. About 15 years ago Mr Paterson married Mrs Cameron, of Ponsonby. To her and the sorrowing family the sympathy of the community xvill be extended on their sad bereavement. • The funeral wiW leave the Presbyterian Church, Ngaruawahia, at 12.30 p.m. to-morrow for the local cemetery.