PIONEER PASSES

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1946, Page 4

PIONEER PASSES

THE LATE MR. JAMES ROSE The death occurred last week in the Palmerston North Hospital of Mr. James Rose, of Levin. Mr. Rose had suffered ill-health since his retirement four years ago, and at the time of his death was 82 years of a&'e- - „ -*t The late Mr. Rose arnved m Zealand in November, 1874, from Kent, England, where he had carried on the trade of blacksmith with his father. He first settled in Rangiora and commenced his trade again there. Before coming to Levin in 1887, Mr. Rose lived in Wellington and Feilding. On his arrival in Levin he set up the first blacksmith shop in the town; probably the first shop of any kind in the town, as there was little else at that time but bush. Almost his first : task was to lay the bed of the first mill, which was at the top of what is now Oxford Street. Another project in which Mr. Rose played an important part was the installation of electric power in the town, being responsible for most of the blacksmith's work.

Mr. Rose was greatly interested in sport, even in the last few years of his life, and was for some time a referee for the Horowhenua Rugby Union. Football was not his only interest, fishing being another pastime which occupied a great deal of his leisure time. He was for many years a friend of Judge Ostler, whom he accompaniad on many a shooting trip in the hilis. ■ Mr. Rose was married in 1884 at Feilding, and there were six children, Mrs. W. J. White (Feilding) , Mrs. V. Bennett (Petone) , Mr. J. H. : Rose (Levin ) , Mr. W. A. Rose, wiho iwas killed in the first World War, ^ and Mrs. R. M. Hawkins and Mrs. : E. Curtis (both deceased) . There i are sixteen grandchildren, three of ; whom served in the second World War, and eleven great-grandchil-idren. Mr. Rose is also survived by jhis wife.