OBITUARY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 406, 21 October 1911, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR WM. BOND

AN OLD IDENTITY

All Te Kuiti was shocked and saddened when it became known on YVeunesdav last that &1" Wm. Bond had passed away at his home in Te Kuiti on the previous evening. Mr i»i)iid was one of Te Kuitrs oldest identities.

He was born at Adelaide in lfc-ie, and when quite a young man, accompanied by his brother, he went to the gold diggings at Ballarat. Still following up gold mining Mr Bond spent some time on the Buller and Grey river goldlields in New Zealand. Later on, during the native troubles in the Waikato, he became a member ot Mijor Jackson's specially selected "Forest Rangers." and saw a good deal of active service. He afterwards proceeded to Wanganui with Colonel Eookes, where he was also on active service during the native troubles there. He then proceeded to the Poverty Bay district with Captain McDonald, where he took a prominent part in the capture of Te Kooti, the famous rebel chief. Sergeant Bond and two privates effected tho actual capture. Mr Bond also took a prominent part in the Orakau fight, fighting for three days. After the close oc the war Mr Bond returned to the Waikato, where, still under Major Jackson, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant-Major of the Te Awamutu cavalry. After serving for a time in the armed Constabulary, Mr Bond took up land at Te Rahu, near Te Awamutu, where he resided with his wife and family for some years. In 1885 Mr Bond sold his farm and bought from Mr Geo. Wilkinson the Star Hotel at Kihikihi, which he conducted for some years, leaving there to go into the Ellerslie Hotel at Ellerslie. Giving up hotel life, the co-operative works then being in full swing between Puketutu and Poro-o-tarao, Mr Bond took up the management of a general store at a place then known as Totara Pegs, working for Mr R. Cashel, now of Ongarue. Then for two years he managed Mr J. W. Ellis' farm at Puketiti, when he superintended the felling of the first bush and the erection of the first fences in the King Country. Returning to Te Kuiti Mr Bond bought Mr Harry Tanner's board ing house, situated on the spot where Mr Boddie's buildings now stand. Unfortunately, in 1900, this house was destroyed by fire, and Mr Bond took up a position as overseer of roads under the late Mr C. W. llursthou3e, in which position he remained until 1909, when he was retired on a pension, under the Government superanuation scheme. Since that time he has lived a retired and quiet life at his home in Te Kuiti. Always popular with his fellows in his younger days, Mr Bond was intensely interested in all branches of athletics, being noted as a daring and fearless cross-coun-try rider, a splendid cricketer, and a successful competitor ; n all kinds of athletic and manly sports. During a long and active life in many places Mr Bond has been invariably admired and respected by those with whom he came in contact, and during his ten years' service in tho Te Kuiti roads district he displayed exceptional tact and ability in administering the various works under his control, and was esteemed both in the office and by the workmen under his charge. He was 72 years of age this present month. The funeral takes place at three o'clock this afternoon. Mr Bond was a Freemason and the funeral is expected to be largely attended by his fellow craftsmen.