OBITUARY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 946, 26 January 1911, Page 3

OBITUARY.

WILLIAM WRIGHT—AGED 75 YEARS.

It is our painful duty to record the death of yet another pioneer, in the person of Mr William Wright, which took place at his residence on Tuesday last, at the age of 75 years. Deceased had been in failing health for some time, but his active disposition rebelled at confinement and be was a familiar figure about town almost up to the time of his death. On Monday night he was seized with an apoplectic stroke from which he did not recover.

The late Mr Wright was born at Portsmouth, England, and as a young man enlisted in the army and came out to New Zealand in the troopship “Yorkshire” between ’4B and ’SO. After a few years in the Auckland province he came to Raugitikei and was a sergeant in the Mounted Yoemanry and was a dispatch carrier for the lateSirWilliamFox. Hearingofthe Victorian gold discoveries, he crossed the Tasman and sought for the precious metal and witnessed the doings of those stirring times. He returned from Victoria to. Gabriel’s Gully and finally settled at Christchurch and married the wife who still survives him in 1866. From Christchurch he went to Nelson where, for a period of 20 years, he filled the position of foreman for Messrs Lightband and Jackson, boot manufacturers and importers. He started business on his own account in Petone in 18S6, removing a year later to Otaki. A few years ago he removed to Foxton where, owing to failing health, he transferred his business to his son.

His early experiences “ by flood and field” were of a thrilling nature. He was a man of strong physique, fearless and of irou nerve, yet generous to a fault. Fie was known as a thoroughly houourable man in business, and bis family life stamped him as an affectionate husband and father.

A wife and family of three sons and tour daughters are left to mourn their loss. The sons are Messrs W. P. Wright (Palmerston), George (Foxton), Oliver (Wellington), and the daughters, Mrs Alexander (Sydney), Mrs Macedo (Feilding), and the Misses Rose aud Daisy, Foxton. The funeral took place this afternoon, the services being conducted by the Rev Father Kelly.