OBITUARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 325, 28 January 1902, Page 3

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF MR F. G. SKIP WORTH. A friend of the late Mr F. G. Skipworth kindly supplied us with the following in memoriam notice, which on account of an oversight did not appear in our issue of yesterday morning : One of the oldest and most respected residents of the district passed away on Saturday evening, in the person of Mr F. G. Skipworth. The late Mr Skipworth was born at Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England, in 1836, and after being educated at Chatham Military School, he entered the countinghouse of the Great North-Western Railway Company. He came to New Zealand at 10 years of age. larding

in Wellington in 1853. During his residence of ten years in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay he saw a great deal of hardship. He was a close friend of Sir Donald McLean’s, having been intimately connected with him in native business. He was interpreter to the Government for a short period. He joined the defence force in Hawke’s Bay, and after experiencing some military hardship and fighting in tout parthe came to Poverty Bay with the force when they came to assist the settlers at the time of the great Maori trouble. He was present at the taking of the Waerenga-a-hika pah. After tnese disturbances were queued he returned to Hawke’s Bay, where he got his discharge. He, however, soon returned to Poverty Bay, where he took up his residence, and where he had resided ever since. He was destined to see more lighting, having been present at Paparatu, where he held the office of lieutenant. He became clerk and

interpreter of the first Magistrate’s Court field in Gisborne. He was one I of those settlers who suffered at the massacre, having only had time to escape with his wife and family from Makaraka, where he lost everything. He was in the employment of Captain Read as clerk for a number of years, and after the decease of that old gentleman he still retained office under the trustees of Read’s estate. Having served there for twenty vears he took up business on his own account as licensed interpreter and native agent, and having a thorough knowledge of the Maori language and customs he became an expert in the native land matters of the'East Coast. Through his sterling qualities and honest dealings in business he was respected by all .who came in contact with him. He leaves a wife and seven grown-up children, four sons and three daughters, to mourn their loss. The funeral of the late Mr Skipworth took place yesterday afternoon, and was attended by a large number of the friends and relatives of the deceased. The service at the grave was performed by Messrs G. Johnstone, W.

Arthur, and Dr Cole, the deceased having been a member of the Plymouth Brethren.