MATAWAI PIONEER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 14 November 1939, Page 5

MATAWAI PIONEER

DEATH IN GISBORNE

MR, J. B. CLARK PASSES

TRYING DAYS RECALLED

A former resident of Matawai. Mr. John Briggs Clark, who made his home in that district in the days when only a few settlers had penetrated into that area, died at his residence. 24 Muir street, Tc Hapara, last evening, at the age of 67 years.

Mr. Clark was the second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Clark, Poverty Bay pioneers of the early seventies, who afterwards settled in Hawke’s Bay. Ho was born in Gisborne and educated in Hawke’s Bay.

A riding track was the sole means of communication between Matawai and the more civilised parts of the East Coast district when Mr. Clark took up the task in 1899 of converting to farming land an area of 1200 acres of virgin bush country. Several years elapsed before he was able to build his homestead, which was to become the half-way house for many travellers on the route from Gisborne to Opotiki.

His property was situated a short distance south of the site of the present Matawai township and for a long time his supplies had to be taken to the station by pack-horse from Gisborne. In earlier times provisions were received only once a year.

Bush Fire Menace A terrifying experience that befell Malawai residents in 1913, when there were few settlers in the district, was a bush fire which swept practically the whole of the Malawai country. The fire lasted about a week and but for the assistance rendered by'.employees of the Public Works Department engaged on the construction of the Motuhora railway line a number of the homesteads v/oulcl have been destroyed. Vivid recollections of the escape of the settlers from tlic disaster were retained by Mi. Clark. In 1926 Mr. Clark disposed of his Matawai interests and later settled at Repongaere. This year he retired and made his home at Te Hapara. While at Matawai Mr. Clark took an active interest in the advancement of the district. He was the chairman of the first school committee and also was prominently associated with the Matawai Sports Club and Dog Trial Club, as well as many other activities. He warmly supported the late Mr. K. S. Williams as Parliamentary representative for the Bay of Plenty and was chairman of Mr. Williams’ Matawai committee. Local Body Service For three years immediately following the Great War he served as a member of the Waikohu County Council. When he removed to Patutahi he took a keen interest in local organisations there, being a member of the Patutahi Bowling Club and the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Clark was an early member ol the Justices of the Peace Association in the Gisborne district, and was also a member of Turanganui Lodge.

His marriage to Miss Marie Alice Cameron, second daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ewcn Cameron, took place in 1902, and the deceased is survived by his widow, three sons, Messrs. E. D., J. D.. and W. G. Clark, and one daughter, Mrs. C. Cusack, all ot whom reside in the Gisborne district. There are nine grandchildren. A sister, Mrs. D. McGregor, lives in Edinburgh, Scotland, while he leaves also two half-sisters, Mrs. J. Keenan, Gisborne, Mrs. J. Reid, Hawke’s Bay, and three half-brothers. Mr. W. R. Clark, Matawai, Mr. A. Clark Hawke’s Bay. and Mr. F. Clark. Taranaki.

A short service will ho Held at Cochrane’s private chapel, Williams street, at 1.45 p.m. to-morrow and the funeral will leave at 2 p.m. for the Taruheru cemetery.