MR. ALFRED MASTERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 78, 19 April 1937, Page 8

MR. ALFRED MASTERS

There passed away on Saturday las| a very old and respected Hastings resL dent in the person of Mr Alfred Maa* ters of Selwood road. The late Mr Masters, wfio was his 90fch year, had led an active lifa and until recently had enjoyed remarkably good health. His birthplace waa the village of Hamstreet, Kent, Eng^ land, where he was born in 1847. A# , a young -man he served for a number of years on the Ordinin Survey. In thq. year 1882 he married Alice Lydia LuYesf and two years later they sailed for, New Zealand on the British Queenj landing in Wellington in Februaryt 1884. Some few years later Mr Ma»> ters purchased the then well-knoWn Riverslea Hop Gardens and earried on for many years as a hop grower and farmer. At the Christchurch Exhibi» tion in 1906 he was the winner of tho gold medal for hops. The old fiOp Jtiln, a well-known land-mark of the district, was used as the first Parkvale Schoof and later as a Sunday School. At tho time of tfie 'quake tfie brick ends of this building were demolished* and tho remainipg wooden portion was pui>»chased by St Matthews . Cfiurch, and i« now known as St. Barnabas'a Mission Hall. The late Mr Masters waa a keen ehurckman, and served on ihe St. "Matthew's vestry for nearly 20 years. Mr , Masters was 'one of seven men who, about 35 years ago, formed the first braneh of the Farmers' Union in Hawke's Bay. For a number of years h© acted as chairman, and for quite o ' long period in .the latter years of fiis * life he was provincial treasurer, relinquishing this position only two yearo ago. In recognition of fiis services, fie was made a lif© member of tho. Newj Zealand Farmers' Union and presented witfi a mucfi-vaiued life members'* badge. For many years Mr Masters was a director and ako managing director of the Heretaunga Dairy Factory, in tho welfare of which company fie was keen* ly interested. To mourn their loss fie leaves n widow, two sons and three daughters, Mr C. Masters (Taihape), Mr L. Maa* ters (Twyford), Mrs A. J. Burgo (Twyw ford), Mrs W. O. Cowgn (Christ* church), Mrs L. Liley (Hastings). There are also eight grandsons gnd four grand-daughters. The late, Mr Masters was predeceased by three sons, Messrs Sidney, George and Alfred .Masters. ' The f uneral took place this afternoon at the Hastings Cemetery. Tfia undertaker, -Mr M. Spriggs, of Napier, was a shipmate on tfie British Queen.