MR. KYRAN BROPHY, PLEASANT VALLEY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11, 15 March 1906, Page 15

MR. KYRAN BROPHY, PLEASANT VALLEY.

Sincere and wide-stpread regret was felt in Geraldine on March 3, when it became known that Mr. Kyran Brophy, of Pleasant Valley, had died as a result cf an accident which happened to him a few days previously. The deceased was held in the highest esteem in the district, and by none more so than the congregation of St. Mary's in the Bush, among whom he was the leader in every work of religion and charity. The late Mr. Brophy, who was in his 67 th year, was a native of Queen's County, where he was brought'up to farming pursuits. In 1859 he arrived in Victoria, where he remained for a couple of years, after which he came over to New Zealand, going first to the Otago goldfields, and later on to the West Coast. In 1866 he bought land >at Pleasant Valley.where he was a very successful farmer, and at the time of his death owned several other farms in the district. Mr. Brophy, who was a justice of the peace, took an active share in public affairs, 'said was a member of several public bodies. The funeral, which took place on Monday l, March 5, was one of the largest seen in the district for a long time. The remains were taken to the Catholic church, Geraldine, and thence to the local cemetery where the interment took place, the Very 'Rev. Dean Bowers officiating both at the church and the graveside. The deceased leaves a family of seven sons and four daughters to mourn their loss. Speaking in the church the Very Rev. Dean Bowers expressed appreciation of the admirable example of a truly Christian life which the deceased gave to all. He (Dean Bowers) had spent about sixteen years in the district, and during that time it had been his duty to make various proposals to the congregation for the promotion of the Church's welfare, and he never made any such proposal,, whether it regarded a matter of greater importance or a matter of smaller importance, without leeeiving the prompt and generous and whole-«ouled co-operation of the deceased. Mr. Brophy was one of those whe welcomed Live priest, when a priest first visited tic rtistricr,. 'aim every priest who had come there since then received a cordial welcome from him. He '(Dean Bowers) said he had never met a man f.»r \\): Mm he had moie thorough respect, and it was a pleasure to knov' that Mr. Brophy was highly respected i y the whole community. In every movement that :iad t;len pljce in the district for the welfare of his Irliowmen during his long residence there, he tcok an active and an honorable part. He had his faults and his failings, no' doubt. Who has not ? But whatever his faults or his failings might have been, he never allowed them to interfere with the faithful discharge of his (duty both as a citizen and as a member of the congregation. He might even have had enemies, although he was everyone's friend, still he might have been misunderstood at times by some. There are some, also,, whose friendship no honest man would covet. Amongst such possibly he might have toad enemies, i>ut of this he (the Dean) \\~g certain, amongst) honorable and straightforward and clean-minded men Kyran Brophy never had an enemy. —R.l.P.