OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 18 July 1912, Page 43

OBITUARY

MR. JAMES WILSON, MAKING.

Mr. James Wilson, a very old and much-respected colonist, and one who, passing through the most strenuous pioneering times, had witnessed the progress of settlement in the Dominion from practically the earliest days, departed this life at his late residence, Makino, near Fending, on Sunday afternoon, July 7, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. The late Mr. Wilson was born in County Westmeath on December 24, 1829. Being orphaned at a tender age, he, when little more than a mere youth, left his native land for New Zealand, arriving in Wellington in 1845. After being occupied for a comparatively brief period in the then embryo town, he settled on a small holding in the valley of the Upper Hutt, and married at the age of twenty-one years. With great heart but little means, the young couple faced unflinchingly the difficult task of subduing the wilderness, and incidentally making a living. Despite privations,* hardships, and many disappointments, combined with long years of wearisome toil, they struggled on, and here the whole of their large family were born, and for the most part reared. Later on, when the Public Works policy of the late Sir Julius Vogel was fairly launched, and the railway from Wellington was being extended northwards, the late Mr. Wilson was engaged in contract work for a number of years. He felled the bush a sufficient width for the line from the Silverstream to the summit of the Rimutaka, cleared the line in advance of the permanent way formation gangs of navvies, and eventually fenced both sides of the line from Haywards to the Summit, employing upwards of fifty men. About twenty-nine years ago the late Mr. Wilson and family removed to the Manawatu district, where he resided ever since. Always a stunch and faithful adherent of Holy Church, the residence of the late Mr. Wilson was, in the early days, and as long as he resided at Upper Hutt, the home of the pioneer priests. His house was among the first erected there, and before a church was built, Mass was celebrated there for the scattered Catholic settlers. Nearly, if not all, the early Marist Missionary Fathers at one time or another, and for varying periods, enjoyed his open-handed hospitality. Throughout his long life he was ever to the fore in whatever pertained to the well-being and advancement of religion. .Although for the last five years deprived of physical activity, he was always most cheerful and patient, despite acute suffering at times. During the last few months he rapidly declined in health, but retained his full mental faculties, to the end. He passed peacefully away, fortified by all the rites of the Church, administered by the Rev. Father O’Dwyer, the deceased being attended during his last illness by the Rev. Father Kinkead. The Rev. Father O’Dwyer officiated at the interment in Makino Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, the funeral being attended by many friends from the adjoining districts. ■ The deceased leaves a. widow and surviving family of five daughters and six sons. Of the latter all were present at the funeral—one each of whom resides at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Levin, Feilding, and Makino. The youngest daughter is a religious in the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, Auckland.—R.l.P. ’