Obituary

Chronicle (Levin), 4 March 1949, Page 2

Obituary

MR DAN RANSFIELD •

With the passing last week of Mr. Daniel- Ransfie.'d, one of- the last remaining links with the early , history of the district, both from .a Native and European point of view, has been brokep. Mr. Ransfield was born at Peka Peka, Waikawa, in the middle sixties of the last century. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robe'rt Ransfield, a prominent sheepfarmer, who farmed the Peka 'Peka property some 50 years ago. His grandfather was engaged iii whale fishing at Mahia, Mana and Kapiti. Later the Ransfield family was engaged in sheep farming at 'Huritini, Waikawa. The deceased gentleman had a very wide knowledge of the early settlement of the district. He had seen in transformed from its vir|in state into what it is today. Indeed he was a most interesting personality, on matters of native customs and mode of living. Mr. Ransfield was a member of the Ngati-wehi-wehi tribe, a subtribe of the Ngati-raukawa. A:

various times he was engaged m different occupations. Eighteen '■ years were spent in Waitara, where he managed a wood and coal yard. For six years he trained horses in . the Waikato, while for several j years he resided in Thames. Forj the past 30 years he had lived in; Manakau. He was of a kindly and happy disposition nossessed of a keen sense of humour, and a multitudej of friends_ and acquaintances will miss his at all times cheery greet-| ing. For a man of his advanced age he possessed remarkable vital-j ity, and was at all times mostactive. 1 ! i Left to mourn their loss are four, daughters, two brothers and a sister. His wife, two sons and two daughters predeceased him many yearsi ago. Following a tangi, his remains 'were interred at Manakau on Sunday.