OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 75, 8 July 1942, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR G. S. WHITESIDE

In the tleath of Mr George Samuel Whiteside which occurred last Sat-« urday at the age of 79, an interests ing link with the early days of North Auckland and the initial survey work in many parts of the province was severed. The late Mr Whiteside landed as a infant with his family in Auckland in 1864, after a long trip out in the sailing vessel 'Ganges' The family trekked overland to Ohehunga and went by boat to Drury and Government transport removed them from there to the Queen's Redoubt (Pokeno) where with other emigrants they camped for some months and assisted in the construction of the southern military road. Later they removed to Tuakau where the family made their home for five? years in a two-roomed raupo hut.

The Whiteside family then settled at Whangarata where they broke in a large tract of bush country which was successfully farmed. As a young man the late Mr Whiteside was given the opportunity of joining up with a party of Government surveyors, as a linesman. His work took him to all parts of the l South Auckland district, most of which was then in its virgin state the only access being by bush tracks. Five years later he put in for a Government section at Onewhero and was sue-* cessful. This land which was in heavy standing bush he cleared and farmed for some years. Shortly after his marriage he accepted a Government commission to carry out some engineering survey work in the Raglan district in the coyjrsq.,of which he laid out the Tuakau-section Main Trunk line, and supervised its formation with the aid of Government co-opted labour. Passing his surveyors examination, he received an ap-t pointment as engineer to the Otamatea County Council, North Auck* land where he worked in the area settled by the Albertlanders and the Waipu Crofters. He was next appointed engineer to the Opotiki Count}' and five years later to -the Waimea County in Nelson, moving from thence to successive positions at Inglewood and Blenheim. At all the above localities he was instrumental in playing a prominent part in their settlement and establish-* ment. More latterly he came north, deciding some years ago tO' settle in retirement in Whakatane, where he acquired considerable property. He has been particularly alert, for a man of his years and was noted foir his vigour and action. He is survived by five children! Miss Myrtle Whiteside Mrs H. H. Harris (Auckland), Mrs J. Shaw (Edgecumbe), Mr G. W. Whiteside (Otakiri), and Dr. R. S. V/hiteside (Waiuku). There are six grandchildren.