BEN LYONS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1932, Page 4

BEN LYONS

DEATH at WELLINGTON

IX TILS 95th YEAR. The tleatli of Mr Benjamin Lyons took place at 2 o'clock on Good Friday morning at the residence of his daughter, ■Mis Dumb, 219 Vivian Street, AVeiJingiton, following a bear; seizure a, few hours previously, tlie end coming quietly and peacefully. Born in London ill 1837 the •deee...ised was in his 95th year. Mr Lyons was a well known figure on the Wert Coast over a long period of years and las a host of friends who ..will hear of his patting with sincere regret, JR came out to Victoria when a lad of twenty, and shortly aicer left for New Zealand, binding in Dunedin in 1863. He was at tlie rushes at Dunstan and Gabriel’s Gully, and when the- West Coast rush broke out he followed the crowd, landing at Greymouth. From there he came to Hokitika, ■ and then to Stafford where he settled down, ..

to carry on a storekeeping business with the late Air L. Raphael for many years. Later the lattet sold out his interests, and for about forty years Air Lyons carried on bin business at Stafford. What was once a very prosperous mining township dwindled down, till when Mr Lyons left the- place some two and a half years ago there was only a very small rein-, nant remaining. In the busy days of Stafford, Mr Lyons took a keen interest in the .social amenities of the place and (for it number of years was Chairman of the 'Stafford School Committee and of the Literary Institute, He was a g°U buyer dor the Bank of New Zealand after the Stafford branch cf the bank closed down, and was one or the best known and most popular figures in tha district, having always a cheery greeting for persons passing through the township to nearly all of whom he was personally known. Following the death of his wife in August 1929, Mr Lyons ■sold up his business, and went to Wellington to live with bis daughter, and had enjoyed fairly good health. He kept every faculty, taking a keen interest in all happenings right up to the end and having a specially warm welcome 'for -any West Coast friends whom he met.

Deceased leaves a family of one daughter (Airs A. Domb of Wellington) and six sons (David of the Defence Department, Wellington, Reginald of the (Armoury Staff, Trentham, Lionel of the Bank of X.Z. Taihape, Lewis of the Bank of X.Z. Invercargill, Clarence of of the Bank of X.Z. Timaru and Eric in Wellington).

The remains are being brought to Hokitika for Interment, the funeral taking place on Sunday afternoon at 2.30 o’clock.