OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16253, 2 July 1918, Page 5

OBITUARY.

» MR JOHN HILL. The ranks of the province's pioneers were further thinned yesterday by the' death of Mr John Hill, of 43 Rugby street, Merivale, for many years a resident of West Melton, and one of the original settlers. Born in Cornwall, England, in February, 1836, the late Mr Hill received his education at South Melton and Minehead, in Somersetshire. At ■"that time, the late forties, Zealand, then largely ail unknown country, was beginning to attract the attention of the people of the Old Land, and various associations were brought into existence for the purpose of exploiting the new land and for promoting settlement. Like many more enterprising young men of the time, Mr Hill, then a mere youth, and. his brother, the late Mr James Hill, of Ihinsandel, were fascinated with the idea of beginning life in New Zealand under such conditions as then prevailed, and with the assistance of their parents set to work to attain the goal on which they had set their heaits. The brothers came out to New Zealand under the cart of the late Mr Guise Brittan, aboard the ship Sir George Seymour, which dropped anchor in Lytte; in -on December 16th, 1850. Before sailing from the Old Country the brothers had purchased

jjurn mb uanieroury Association fifty acres of land at Fendalton, and a similar area at Papanui, and the purchase carried a town section for each in the city of Christchurch, then a small village, with wildfowl swimming complacently in the area now occupied bv Cathedral square.' They farmed the land at Fendalton for some vears, but about 1864 removed to West Melton, where they took up separate blocks or 1/0 acres each. Mr Hill continued to reside in West Melton until eleven years ago, when he retired, and came to live in the city. During his residence ' at West Melton he farmed with considerable success, and increased his original holding to ICOO acres, including some of the best land in the district, j During his long residence in the disj trict Mr Hill took an active interest in jaM matters which pertained to the j welfare of the locality, and which were j promoted to advance its progress For more than thirty years ho held a seat «■* the local School Committee, being chairman for several terms, and was I als ° a member of the Domain Board and Library Committee for many years. Mr Hill took a very keen interest in . Anglican Church ipatters, and was largely instrumental in securing the erection, more than thirtv vears ago, of the pretty little church which stands ui the township. In this church he as Iny render until his removal from the di-trH. Mrs Hill predeceased rer husband lour years ago. Mr Hill is sun :\ed l:y Ic.ur sons and five daughters, ;>M'i a .number of grandchildren. ' j One of his grandsons. .Mr Leonard Watson, was killed on the Western front to- '> \varc.s v.O rinse of last vonr. The fnne- j ral will take place at the Anelican Cemetery. Melton. to-irorrow, 1-rv'ui: the deroasc-d's late residence, Kugby street, at onr> o'clock.