OBITUARY. TcTSSI

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 18764, 20 December 1935, Page 8

OBITUARY. TcTSSI

MITE NINI KUKUTAI. MAORI CENTENARIAN. MERCER, Thursday. . _ An aged Maori woman, Mite Nini Kukutai, better known at Ngakungaku, reputed to be 106 years old, died yesterday at a native pa at Punga, a remote settlement about eight miles up the Waikato River from Mercer. Preparations are being made for a tangi and large numbers of natives visited Mercer to-day to make purchases of food.

MR M. J. SHEAHAN

A PROMINENT LAYMAN,

AUCKLAND, Friday

The death occurred last evening of a well-known Auckland resident and prominent Roman Catholic layman, Mr Michael Joseph Sheahan, at the age of 79 years. Mr Sheahan, who had been acting Consular Agent for Italy for some years, was born at Mallow, County Cork, but had resided in Auckland since March, 1861, when he came to New Zealand in the sailing ship John Bosworth, the Voyage occupying four months.

Always keenly interested in Irish affairs, Mr Sheahan was organiser for many notable delegations to New Zealand, the first delegates from the Irish party being John and William Redmond In 1882, who faced much prejudice and opposition. In 1932 he visited England, and during his visit abroad that year attended the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin. He.made an extensive tour of England and Scotland, and was one of the principal speakers at the annual celebrations of the Hibernian Society in Glasgow. He had a similar honour at the District Conference of Hibernians at Montreal, on his return to New Zealand. As a prominent Catholic layman, Mr Sheahan served under seven bishops in Auckland, these being Bishops Pompalier, Groke, Steins, Luck, Lenihan, Cleary and Dr. Liston. He was intimately associated with Bishop Cleary. Interest In Sport. Mr Sheahan took a very keen interest in Rugby football and was for many years tbe Auckland delegate to the New Zealand Rugby Union. At the time of bis death lie was president of the Martel Rugby Club, lie was also a very keen supporter of cricket, especially of the coach fund to which he was most generous. Some years ago he was also intereslcd in amateur athletics and held the olllec of vice-presi-dent of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club.

Until a few years before his death Mr Sheahan regularly at (ended ids olllce, although lie had retired from his business of land and estate agent for about live years. In addition to acting as Consular Agent for Italy in Auckland lie held numerous public othcCs. . Mr Sheehan's wife died 11 years'ago, and his only son Hied 'seven years ago. He is survived by liis only daughter, Mrs Reuben U’Brieu.