TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 16, 10 August 1888, Page 13

T I M A R U .

(From an occasional Correspondent.) Harold Badobe, a celebrated mountaineer, more generally known as " Big Mick," one of the first pioneers of the McKensie country, died here on Sunday the 29th July. The deceased was a" man of power/ul.physique, a native of Sicily, and arrived in this Colony some thirty years ago. Previous to that time he had been a soldier and served in the Crimea. After be arrived in N.Z., he worked for a few years on the Ben More and Ben Ohau stations, where through his economy and thrift he saved sufficient to enable him to take up the Birch Hill run which includes the southern Spurs of Mt. Cook. It was as owner of this station that he performed those wonderful exploits in mountaineering which has made the name of Big Mick familiar with every settler in South Canterbury. When engaged in mustering his sheep he has been known to spend mghta on the oold shelterless mountain sides traveling until tha soles were stripped from his boots and often having to subsist on roots when his proviiiong failed him. On leaving this station he took up another mountainous run situated at the upper end of Like Tekapo, called Mistake Station, which in this instance proved true to its name, ai, after a hard struggle against bad times and bad luok, he had to relinquish this run some three years ago. Since thea he has been employed by Mr. Kiddleston of the Hermitage, as guide, and the many tourists with whom he has been brought in contact can testify to his sterling; qualities. He was the first man who set foot on the celebrated Tasman Glacier so that his position as guide in that locality was singularly appropriate. Latterly he has been Buffering from jaundice, of which complaint he died at Timaru, having removed thither for medical treatment. He leaves a widow but no children. H s last moments were attended to by the Rev. Father Foley, and he died fortified by all the rites of the Church. A truly hospitable and kind man, he is widely regretted.— R.I, P. The Rev. Father Foley preached at 11 o'clock Mass on Sunday, and made an urgent appeal to the congregation for BUpport on behalf of the schools. — Like most congregations, there are some who are never behind in taeir contributions, while there are others who can and ought to pay, but never do so. To the latter his remarks were particularly directed, and it is to be hoped they will awaken to a sense of their duty in that respect, and help, by their co-operation, to keep the schools in the efficient and creditable state they are at present. The Evicted Tenants' Fund will shortly be closed. The committee expect to be able to forward to the treasurer at Home £100 as the net proceeds of their efforts.