OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3159, 10 August 1917, Page 5

OBITUARY

ME. G. P. DONNELLY, OP HAWKE'S BAY. A Press Association message announces the death of Mr, George Prior Donnelly, of Otatara, Hawke's Bay, one of tho befitknown squatters in tho district, and ft gentleman, who, though ho never entered public life, took a very lively interest in district and public affairs generally. Ho was (i keen sportsman, and was tho owner of racehorses which have done well ou the Now Zealand turf. Ho was at ono time a member of the Hawke's Bay County Council, and was keenly interested in the Hawke's Bay A. and I'. Association. Mr. Donnelly was a good loyalist, and a recont evidence of his practical patriotism was in evidence last year when he settled twenty-four returned soldiers on,ono of his estate,? at Kaiwaka, 17 miles from Napier, on terms that were extremely generous. He was the owney of several large estates in the district, whero he was generally esteemed. The late Mr. Donnelly was born at 'Brittis, County Tipperary, m lMv, and was a. sou of a landed proprietor, Air. Patrick Donnelly. Ho was educated at Archdeacon Langley's school, Dorm, County Limerick. His father died in •1861. 'and two years lato he came to New Zealand with his mother and family. In ISG4 ho joined the Auckland Cavalry, and he rode his first race, the Garrison Hunt Steeplechase, at lamaki. After matters had quietened down, Mr. Donnelly settled at Wairoa South and in 18G7 became manager for Major Garlyon s run. Later he took up land on his own account, and eventually became (possessed of some of the finest of the. country. In 1877 he was married to Anni ionore, a noted Maori chieftainess who died some years ago. The late Mrs. Donnelly .was the daughter of the celebrated Hawke's Bay chief, Renata Karepo. 16 last surviving member of tho family « Mrs. Perry, an only daughter. The lato Mr. Donnelly is to bo buried on Sunday afternoon at Omahu, where his wife was interred. Peoplo are a - readv arriving fo the funeral, which is likely to bo the largest over 6een in Hawke's Bay.