OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 17 December 1914, Page 35

OBITUARY

MR. WILLIAM MITCHELL, STAFFORD. It is with extreme regret that we record the death of Mr. William Mitchell, of Stafford, which, took place on December 4. Mr. Mitchell, who was highly respected by all who knew him, was one of the very oldest residents of the Waimea and Stafford districts, where he had followed the vocation of a miner from the early days. He was born in Galway, Ireland, and was 71 years of age. A widow and grown-up family of five sons and five daughters are left to mourn their loss. One son (Thomas) is in business in Blenheim, and the others ("William, Peter, John,- and Edward) are resident in the Stafford district. One daughter is married (Mrs. Heil, of 'Stafford), one is in charge of a post office in the Westport district, another is in the convent at Christchurch, and two are at home. The community is the loser by the death of a good colonist, and its sincere sympathy will be extended to the family in the bereavement that has overtaken them.— R.l.P. MR. GEORGE CROSBY, PAEROA. One of the oldest and best known residents of Paeroa, in the person of Mr. George Crosby, passed away at the Paeroa Hotel on Saturday evening, after'an illness extending oyer some years (says the Ohincmuri Gazette of December 7). The late Mr. Crosby was born in County Meath, Ireland, in the year 1856, arriving in Auckland in 1873 by the ship Waitangi. For a short time he was engaged in station life at Cambridge, and afterwards at Whakatane for two years. In 1894 he settled in Paeroa, purchasing several lines of coaches, and also erecting the Royal Mail. Hotel, of which he was landlord for many years. Mr. Crosby’s gifts to deserving causes were very numerous, and many a good turn did he do without expecting and without wanting any thanks or reward. He took his full share in local

* . - f politics, being for nine years a member of the, Ohinemuri County Council, as well as a member of the Paeroa School Committee, Paeroa Domain Board, and other local bodies for a number of years., • Mr. Crosby leaves behind a large circle of sorrowing;: friends, and to his widow and family (three sons and four daughters) we extend our sincere sympathy in their sad affliction. The deceased was a fervent Catholic, and at the evening devotions at St. Joseph’s' Church, Paeroa, the Yen. Archdeacon Hackett made touching reference to his many good qualities, and particularly his untiring zeal in all movements having for their object the welfare of the Church* The funeral, which was a very large one, was conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon Hackett at the Paeroa Cemetery, where the Archdeacon again paid a tribute to the deceased. —R.l.P.