OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 21, 3 November 1944, Page 5

OBITUARY

Mr T. J. cummings

In the death of Mr Timothy James which occurred suddenly last Wednesday evening Whaltatane has lost one of its be&t known and widely respected citizens of thirty-three years standing. The late Mr Cummings made a name for himself as police, constable of this town and district for an unbroken period from 1911 till 1940 when he retired, and was. accorded a fitting presentation at a public function, convened by the Mayor of the town. | There will be few persons in this ! or even beyond it who will not regard the passing of the late Mr Cummings or 'Tim' as he was more familiarly known as a personal loss. His thirty-three years service in the interests of law and order in this growing centre of the East Coast serve as an illustration and example of how a police officer by scrupulous fairness and firmness } can at the same time, win the esteem and affection of the. community. In the earlier days, before coming to Whakatane he was warned that he was being given a 'tough job.' This he speedily realised for the thriving young town was; noted for the unruly element which at times gave it notoriety and prominence in the news. His district extended from Nukuhou on the southto Otamarakau on the north and extended inland right up to the Urewera hinterland. He tackled his job with firmness and determination, and _ quicklywon the respect and regard of the Maori community ? amongst which he. had right up to the time of his death many warm friends. His only means of travel was by horse ; and owing to the, bad state of the roads, this often meant an absence from, home for days and sometimes weeks 4 '9 on end. He played a valuable part in dealing with the trouble which' arose when the Maori Prophet Rua, » defied the Pakeha from the fastness of the then little-known. Urewera. As a guide and councillor to the large poss-e of police which made the trip to Rua's Pa ? he proved alike his intimate knowledge of the bush, and his understanding on the Maori of the more secluded parts.

At the time of his he was advised by Mr A. F. Moncur who was then M.P. for Rotor to write & book on hits: early experiences in Whakatane and make a fortune. This would seem to be in every way correct for those, who struck him in one of his reminiscent moods, were treated to hair-raising stories of the past which could vie with any modern thriller. He had a great fund of stories and there were few who knew the Eastern Bay as intimately as he. He is often credited with bringing and main-

taining law and order to this •district for the first time for there are still many older residents who can recall the hectic days which prevailed prior to his coming.

Born at South Island sixty-nine years ago } the late Mr Cummings came of a family which was destined to figure prominently in the Police Force of the Dominion. His two brothers Messrs D. J. and J. Cummings have,both held the position of Dominion Commissioner, after having graduated from other important posts. He was educated in the South Island and joined the force as a young man. occupying several other posts before being transferred to Whakatane. l*t 'was however the East Coast that appeal-, ed to him, and he expressed no desire to leave the town of his adoption. Following his retirement he was made a Justice of the Peace, and later was elected a member of the. Whakatane Borough Council where he continued to give valuedi service to the community. Latterly he had acted as relieving Clerk of. Court ? and was a few weeks ago appointed District Coroner. Active and alert 5 his aeath came as a great shock to the district, where he had become so well known for his liindliness and co-operation, in all matters relating toi the, public welfare. He leaves his widow and four children, Mr John F. Cummings (Auckland), Mrs E. J. Humphrey (Rotarua),? Mr Mervyn Cummings (Whakatane) and Mrs Allan Morpeth (Whakatane) . There are seven grand children. The deepest sympathywill be extended to the members of his family. The funeral takes place today ? leaving St. John's Catholic Church at 2 p.m.