OBITUARY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XVI, 14 October 1899, Page 687

OBITUARY.

MR JAMES HEBBERLEY. The news that Mr James Hebberley of Waikawa Road, I’icton, was missing from his home on Tuesday morning caused some little excitement in the place, and all who could turned out to search the scrub around for the missing man. Late in the day his body was picked up in the harbour. How he came there is a mystery. He was 92 years of age, and the recipient of a pension of £5O per annum from the Government. When found he was standing upright in the water, with his eyes wide open, and his walking stick still grasped in his hand. He also had over £2O in his pockets. He was known in Wellington. Nelson, and Marlborough as “Old Worser,” from a habit he had of stating that everything was “worser nor that.” He claimed to be the oldest resident in the colony and was in Marlborough when Rauparaha conquered the South Island. He was present at a cannibal feast in Queen Charlotte Sound, and was- also in the Sound at the time of the Wairau Massacre. He had kept a diary of the events of his life, and his ambition was to see it published, but his price, £5OO, was far too high for any publisher to whom he submitted it. He was a well known character at all vice-regal visits, and always insisted on his right to be presented, and give a resume of his history to distinguished visitors. Worser Bay, in Wellington, was called after him. and formerly belonged to his first wife. The funeral took place from the Anglican Church.