OBITUARY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 276, 13 July 1910, Page 2

OBITUARY.

—We "deeply regret to report the death, in his 76th year, of Mr Peter William Melling, one of Te Kuiti's oldest residents. Mr Melling had been in failing health for some considerable time, and during the past fourteen months had been confined to the house. His death took place at his residence on Sunday morning last at one o'clock, the cause being heart failure.

Mr Meljing, who was born at New Brighton, England, on 9th, 1835, was a Cheshire map, and pame to New JZealand in the "Shaliraar," landing in Auckland on Christmas eve 1858. He had selected tend in the North Auckland district previous to coming out,. as was the custom in those early days of settlement, but the still "roadless" North was impassable then, and he became associated with Major Lusk in Government Survey work. After some years he returned to England for a period, where he was married in 1874, returning to New Zealand in 1875. He came of a wellconnected family at Home, amongst other relatives in England being Mr D. J. Buckton, of Warrington. His father was a corn merchant in Liverpool. Later on Mr Melling was appointed postmaster at Taupiri, from ypfaenpe he was tranferred to Te Kuiti in 1898. He acted as postmaster h.ej:e until 190& when he retired and was succeeded by his daughter, oiijiil fhp importance of the district necessitated tfce Appointment of a postmaster, ftlr Melling svas a prominent roembep of the Chyrph of England, and it was to his and his wife's energies that the' Anglican movement waß kept alive in these parts in the earlier days. He acted as lay reader, chur&h warden and trustee. Gardening, in which he took a lively Interest, was his favourite occupation in his spare time. Mr Melling leaves a wife and one daughter to iliourn his loss.

The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, when, after gejryice in the Anglican church, the coffin was followed by a large number of friends to fe J£uiti cemetery. A memorial seryjjce ' jvili be held in the church on Sunday evening ziejrt!.