OBITUARY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20952, 3 November 1939, Page 6

OBITUARY

ROBERT JOHN JOHNSTON The death occurred to-day of Robert John Johnston at the age of 78 years. Bom at Launceston, Tasmania, Mr Johnston arrived in New Zealand in 1865 and settled at Cambridge when it was a military district. For many years he was a member of the cavalry and at the age of 18 he settled at Matamata as an employee of the Matamata estate then under the management of Mr J. C. Firth. Prior to his death he was the oldest surviving member of the Matamata district. Mr Johnston later purchased a farm in the Waharoa district and lived there for about 25 years. At the outbreak of the Great War he sold his farm and made his home in Hamilton, residing here till the time of his death. The deceased was keenly interested in sport, both Rugby and cricket, and was for many years an active member of the City Football Club and the Hamilton East Cricket Club and was a life member of ~t>oth bodies. He is survived by his wife, nine sons, Messrs Frederick Johnston, Robert John Johnston. Leonard Johnston (Hamilton), William Henry Johnston and Norman Johnston (Morrinsville), Harold Johnston (Matamata), Herbert Johnston (Waharoa), George Johnston (Auckland) and Irwin Johnston (Te Aroha) and two daughters Mrs J. Lock (Walton) and Mrs R. Beaver (Matamata). There are 23 grandchildren. The funeral will take place at 11 a.m. to-morrow, at the Hamilton East Cemetery.