OBITUARY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2714, 29 March 1924, Page 2

OBITUARY

I’AS SIN aUK AN OLD SETTLER. JOHN ALBION SMITH, AGED 90 YEARS. The death occurred on Thursday night at the residence of his son, Mr J. P. Smith, Winchester St., Levin, of a very old resident of this district in the person of Mr John Albion Smith, of Aloutoa, Foxton. The deceased gentleman was born in Cal high ton, Shropshire, England, in 1834 and went to Australia in 1855, engaging in gold digging at Goulburn with some success for the following 12 months. On the discovery of gold in New Zealand he came across to this country, landing at Wellington in 1866 and for the next two years was engaged in alluvial mining on the Clutlui, Otago, and in Nelson. In 1858 he took up land at Moutoa, where the first settlement on this coast was then commencing, and during the following thirty years went through all the hardships and difficulties inseparably associated with the early pioneering days, and including absence of roads, severance from civilisation, and alarms from the then numerous and warlike Maoris. Mr Smith was in the Moutoa during the whole of the Maori war days and in the 00’s when the fighting was in progress in Taranaki and it was feared that the conflagration would spread to the Mannwatu, he assisted in transferring the families of the other settlers of the Moutoa, to Foxton, where a redoubt was built at the rear of the local State School. He himself remained on his farm during the whole of the period. Ainong the many other hardships of the life in those early days was the entire absence of roads, and Mr. Smith in the days before the first track was cut over the hills to Wellington, on numerous occasions walked the distance over the old Monri track. Tie naturally had seen the whole of the settlement of lhe district and romemberd when Palmerston Nortli was a manuka Mat with a few lints scattered on it, and much later when there was one whare in Levin situated a few chains below (lie gravel-pit at the Wernroa Settlement. The late Air Smith was the pioneer dairy farmer of the Moutoa district. When he took up land at Moutoa. it was covered with dense hush, with a track along the river bank. By strenuous labour be converted his holding into one of the most valuable farms in the district. The late Mr Smith was a man of sterling integrity whose word was his bond and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him. lie did not take part in public affair:-. applying bis lime to the improvement of his farm. He pos-scssr-I all his faculties right lip 1,, th - last and was miking to his „oii and daughter-in-law a few minutes prior to his peaceful passing. Deceased was a staunch Catholic and a very generous supporter of his church, being probably best known for his donation of the sites for t lie Catholic Church, school and convent at Foxton, all of which were built mainly through his exertions and financial assistance. A man of the highest integrity, lie was deservedly popular with all who knew him. He leaves a family of three sons and three daughters, Mrs W. Malhe-oti (Rongotea), Mrs N. Ma 1 1 in (Waiios. 11. P>.). Miv Jacobson (Foxton), and Messrs \Y. H. Smith ( Moutoa). -I. A. Smith (MarI inboroiigh) and -J. P. Smith (Levin) to all of whom the sympathy of a huge circle of friend:', will he extended "m their sad loss. The youngest, Mr S. B. Smith, made the supreme sacrifice during the war. 'fhe funeral will leave the Catholic, Church. Foxton. at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow.