Obituary

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 53, 19 October 1949, Page 5

Obituary

MR SAMUEL ARMSTRONG

A year after his retirement from business at Whakatane Mr Samuel Armstrong died at Ngongotaha early this month at the age of 79 years. Well known in the Bay of Plenty as a watchmaker and the founder of a large motor garage, Mr Armstrong was born at Taree, New South Wales, in 1870. He was apprenticed to the watchmaking trade and before coming to New Zealand in 1905 carried on the business in various parts of Australia and Tasmania.

He married when he was 24 and on his arrival in New Zealand commenced a watchmaking business in Napier. He carried this business on in different parts of the North Island and then in 1930 he came to Whakatane and established the present firm of Armstrong’s Watchmaker and Jewellers. Later he also founded Armstrong’s motor garage. The late Mr Armstrong was a keen sportsman and his interests centred especially on athletics and cycling. He was a very keen bandsman and for many years was conductor of the Napier Citizens’ Band and the Whakatane Citizens’ Bahd. He was an accomplished cornet player. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity for over fifty years.

Mr Armstrong is survived by his wife, one daughter, Miss M. Armstrong, Rotorua, and six -sons, who acted as pall bearers.