OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 6, 14 September 1943, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR THOS. DAVIES

In the death of Mr Thomas Davies, whicli occurred last Thursday evening tht" district lost, yet another link with those earlier days when the hastern Bay of 'Plenty was more or Jess isolated from the settled areas which were developing in other parts of the North Island. The late Mr Davit's was one of those .settlers ivho having been horn and bred in these parts, knew the whole of the Bay irom end to end, and also under-: stood its farming possibilities... Born (i.l years ago at Opotiki he was the son ol a Crimean war veteran and one of a large family. Ho was educated at Opotiki and spent his boyhood and j'outh there 1 , woi'k'ng for a considerable period for" the late Mr J. B. Gow. When the Opouriao Instate was thrown open ioi .settlement he was with his twin brother Mr Jim Davics one of the tir.st settlers to take up section-., some 17 years, ago. His farming operations prospered and lie was enabled to extend his interests over other large areas on the Rangitaiki. He enjoyed, travelling anil made, two Avorlil tours in the course of which lie visited the battlefields shortly after the last war. His fanning interest continued to increases on his return until in recent j'ears he had reached a stage where he was one of the largest suppliers dairy produce in the district. He was a director of the Opouriao Dairy Company for many years and took a keen interest in the progress of the district, being ever ready to help in any deserving cause. It was his intention in the near future to make -another trip to the Old Country in order to meet hip son Mr Herbert Davics, who is now a. prisoner of war in Germany. The late Mr Davies won the warm regard of the. Maori people throughout the whole of the Matatua country and his generous open nature i made him at once a friend who en- [ dcavoured to understand the Maori ! point, of view. How well lie succee.il- ! Ed in this respect may be borne out | by- the deep respect in which Jics was held by Maori and I'akeha alike and. the pro found regret felt at li's passing. Mr Davies was a widower of many years standing and. deserves tlia greatest credit, for the manner in which he reared and educated his young family. He leaves six children Messrs Herbert Davies (prisoner of war), AVm. Davies (Onepu), and Mesdames T.

J£. Brassey (Whakatanc), L. F. Hamilton (Ivdgecumbe), T. E. Co'lard (Dargaville), and. -Miss Myrtle Davies (Tancalua). 'J'here are ten grand children.

Tlie funeral which took place hist Saturday was attended by a large and representative number of mourners from all parts of the district.