OBITUARY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3293, 28 July 1943, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR FREDERICK WALKER WELL KNOWN IN THE VALLEY The death occurred recently at a private hospital, Te Aroha, of Mr Frederick Walker, at the age of 73, years. A foundation member, of the Te Aroha Jockey Club, Mr Walker had been caretaker of the local racecourse and its appointments for approximately 33 years, and during that time became popularly known not only among local sportsmen but also to many regular visitors from afar to the club’s meetings. Born in England, he arrived in Auckland at an early age. For a brief period he was engaged at mining in the Coromandel district before going north to farm at Whangarei Heads. From there he came as an early settler to the Gordon to again farm and mill flax, until he joined Mr 'Peter Baine’s staff in Te Aroha, engaged on general contract work. This firmsecured contracts to carry out a number of initial works for the Te Aroha Borough Council and under the direction of Mr 'P. Pilkington, Mr Walker was engaged on the first Te Aroha borough sewerage schemes, the first power sation pipe line from Tui Creek, and the erection of the reservoir fluming from the 'Omahu and Tui creeks. Among other major works also carried out during Mr R. L. Somers’ term of office as Mayor, Mr Walker prepared the foundation of the main street, aided only with a one-horse road plough and whim. He is survived by his widow, ninedaughters, Blanch and Frances (Australia), Mrs Eileen Sutton (Nelson), Mrs Kathleen Owen (Foxton), Mrs. Alice Tilsley (Tirohia), Mrs Evelyn Best (Te Aroha), Mrs Myrtle Massey (Whangarei), Mrs Irene Finlay (Nelson), Mrs Florence Redshaw (Nelson) and three sons, Leo (overseas)/ Frederick (recently invalided home from the Middle East) and Samuel (William) of Kaikohe. Another son, Clarence A. (Max), was killed in action in the Middle East last year. There are 45 chandchildren and 19 /great-grandchildren. . '