"He Was The Best Loved Man In The Bay"

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1949, Page 5

"He Was The Best Loved Man In The Bay"

AUCKLAND, July 22. Residents of Tokomaru Bay, near Gisborne, were sorry when old Hoe Chino died there a year ago, aged over 70. Now they have heen inter-e-.ted to learn that he made puhlic fiequests totalling over £2000. He lived in the district for ahout 30 years and was looked upon as a Eritisher though he w.as horn in Japan and remained a Japanese national until death. When World War II came people protested when it was said he would have to ho intemed, and the anthorities left him free. Residents stated in a telephone interviev today that Hoe Chino was the kindest man in the Bay. He helped sports hodies quietly, was ever cheerful and sent Xmas cards to nearly everyone and gifts at odd times to niany people. He always acted with deep sincerity. His funeral was one of the higgest Tokomaru Bay has ever seen. The man's real name was Chino Koogin. He came to New Zealand when young and worked for many years as a hairdresser. He never married and cared for himself in a tiny licme. "He was easily the hest liked man in the Bay," said a resident today. "When he made gifts — and he always seemed to he doing it — he tried to mfer it was not he who was doing it. He was thinking of other people all the time."