OBITUARY

New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1916, Page 43

OBITUARY

MR. WILLIAM CLAUGHESY, GREYMOUTH

The death is reported of an old and respected resident of Grey mouth in the person of Mr. William Claughesy. Born at the Glen of Aherlow, County Tipperary, in 1848, the deceased arrived on the West Coast whilst quite a young man, and his life was spent and associated with the early settlement of that district and the development of its industries. For a number of years he resided at Nelson Creek and represented that riding as a member of the Grey County Council, and later held a seat on the Greymouth Borough Council. The deceased leaves a widow and daughter (Mrs. Hi Lundquist) to mourn their loss, and to whom is extended the sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement.—R.l.P. «

MR. JAMES KEAN, SOUTH HILLEND.

The death of Mr. James Kean, which was recently announced (says the Southland Times), removes from South Hillend its oldest settler, and a man who was esteemed by all who were acquainted with him. The late Mr. Kean was born in County Wicklow 73 years ago. In 1864 he set sail for Australia, the lure of gold call proving undeniable. He landed in Melbourne, and at once proceeded to the then much-boomed Ballarat diggings. After spending two years in Victoria, the golden West Coast of New Zealand enticed Mr. Kean, with the result that in 1866 he arrived at Hokitika. After the boom had fizzled out on the Coast, Mr. Kean came further south. The Lyall rush again created the wanderlust, and once more Mr. Kean tried his fortune at gold-seeking, and in that venture he was more than ordinarily successful. After 'cleaning up' satisfactorily he made for Temuka. He set sail for Southland in 1876, arriving at the then exceptionally busy port of Riverton in the first month of that year. In 1877 he took up a block of land opposite the old Heddon Bush homestead, the country being in its natural state. Mr. Kean has to have placed to his credit that he was the first man to select land in the now highly prosperous South Hillend district. When the Heddon Bush estate was broken up, the late Mr. Kean purchased a property on the ' Hundred line' road. That was about 13 years ago, and there he resided up to the time of his death. The deceased was attended by the Rev. Father O'Neill, of Winton, in his last illness, and received all the'rites of the Church. The immense concourse of people who paid the last tribute of respect to the hardy old pioneer was a striking commentary in regard to the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. He was a zealous Catholic, and took an active interest in Church affairs, especially in the building of the churches at Wrey's Bush and Centre Bush. He leaves a widow, three daughters (Mrs. M. Crowe, Mrs. McHugh, and Miss Kean), and five sons, all of whom are prosperous farmers in the South Hillend —R.I.P.

MR. JOHN GIESEKING, GREYMOUTH.

It is with extreme regret (says a Greymouth paper) we have to record the death of Mr. John Gieseking, at the age of 48 years. The deceased was educated at the Grey District High School, and in his youthful days, as well as in later years, took a very prominent part in public sports and pastimes. He had been a member of the Greymouth Borough Council and Hospital Board, and had a seat on the directorate of several local companies. One of nature's gentlemen, many were his kindly actions and instances of helping those in want and distress, and only those who knew him best can fully estimate his worth as a true friend and a man whose word was his bond, whilst integrity of the strictest form governed his private as well as public dealings and actions. He leaves a wife, two sons,

and two daughters to mourn their loss, and to whom will be extended the sincere sympathy of the community in their sad bereavement. The very large attendance at the funeral bore testimony to the respect in which deceased was held. As the cortege moved from St. Patrick's Church, where a Solemn Requiem Mass had been celebrated, and proceeded to the cemetery, it assumed large dimensions, all classes of the country being represented, people being present from all parts of the West Coast, with which the deceased had had such a long and honorable association. Very Rev. Dean Carew, assisted by the Rev. Fathers Clancy, Creed, Hanrahan, and Lacroix, officiated at the graveside.— R.I.P.