PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3824, 28 July 1928, Page 4

PASSING OF A PIONEER.

ALEXANDER BELL, AGED 84

Mr. Alexander Bell, aged 84, a pioneer farmer of the Rangitikci and Waikato districts, died at his residence, at Remuera on Tuesday. Mr. Bell was born in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, being the son of a tenant farmer. He was about 20 years of age when hg> arrived at Dunedin, proceeding immediately to the goldfields. He later moved to Rangitikei, where he engaged in farming. In 1868 he married Miss Jane 'Collins, whose people were settled in the Rangitikei district. Taking up a block of bush land at Haleombe, Mr. Bell milled the timber and brought the land into pasture. He bought a further block at Ohingaite, milling the bush and laying out the present township. In 1893 he visited England, inquiring into the frozen meat trade. Being of opinion the retail marketing could be improved to help the producer, he opened 16 retail shops, throughout Scotland two years later. After carrying on the successful selling of New Zealand mutton, he sold the business as a going concern. Mr. Bell settled in the Waikato district in 1901, buying several blocks of land near Morrinsville and developing them with great success. In 1917 he sold the Mangatoparu estate of 5000 acres to the Government for soldier settlers. While residing in Auckland Mr. Bell was actively supervising farms at Pokono, Te Puke and Helcnsville up to the time of his death. There is a grown-up family of four girls and two boys, all by his first wife. His second wife, who was Miss A. J. Irwin, of New South Wales, survives him. The members of the family are: Mrs. G. Cornfoot and Mrs. J. W. Taylor, of Hamilton, Mrs N. J. Crabbe, of Tariki, Taranaki, Mrs, G. L. Laird, of Auckland, Mr. David Bell, of Feilding, and Mr. William Bell, of Auckland.