OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 24 February 1916, Page 47

OBITUARY

MR. JOSEPH BURNS, CLIVE. His many friends among the earlier settlers of New Zealand will be deeply grieved to hear of the death of Mr. Joseph Burns, of Glive, which took place in the Napier Hospital on Friday, February 4. The late Mr. Burns was born in County Armagh in the early forties. He came to manhood's years in the dark days which followed the famine, and, like many another Irishman, was forced to seek fortune in some more favored land. After a short stay in Canada and Australia, -he arrived in New Zealand about 50 years ago. He saw active service during-' the Maori war, and fought in the battle of Omaranui. He was one of the oldest survivors of those who went to Gabriel's Gully at the time of the gold fever. Returning north ''"he engaged in farming

in the Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay districts, ultimately settling down in Clive. He took a keen interest in local affairs, and in the early days, did service on the local boards, and was a member of the school committee for over 20 years. He took a special interest in the affairs of the Church in the district, and was prominent among those who, by dint of personal labor, financial assistance, and public canvassing, succeeded in erecting the first Catholic churches in Napier and Hastings. When the need arose for a church at Clive, the late Mr. Burns donated the site on his own property, and otherwise assisted in the work of building St. Joseph’s Church. During his last illness he was attended by the Rev. Father Dignan (Napier) and Tymons (Greenmeadows). The Rev. Mother and Mother Francis, of Napier Convent, as well as the Marist Brothers were most kind in their attentions towards the deceased. Before he died he had the happiness of seeing every member of his-family standing around his bed. His death was happy and peaceful in the extreme. A Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Delach in the little church deceased loved so well, and was attended by nearly every Catholic in' the Clive parish. His quiet and -unassuming disposition endeared him to all who knew him. The esteem, which his honest and upright character had won for him, was evidenced by the number of floral tributes and messages of sympathy, as well as by the number of those who assembled to pay their last tribute of respect at the graveside. The body was taken to the Sacred Heart Church, Hastings, where a short service was held. The funeral procession to the Hastings Cemetery was over a mile in length, and was one of the most representative yet seen in the district. The pall-bearers were Messrs. W. J. McGrath and Michael Gleeson (Napier), and Leo, Francis, and Thomas Burns (sons of the deceased). In the absence .of the local clergy at the reteat in Wellington, the Rev. Father Cullen, of St. Patrick’s. College, assisted, by the Rev. Father Delach, officiated at the church and at the graveside. The deceased leaves a widow and family of four daughters Mrs. T. O’Keefe (Napier), Misses Kathleen (Wellington), Hilda (headmistress of Clive District School), and Eileen (Napier), and three sons— Messrs. Leo and Frank (Wellington), and Thomas (Clive), to mourn their loss.—R.l.P.