THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3962, 29 June 1929, Page 3

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

■ ♦ JOHN ALFRED PERREAU, AGED 98 YEARS. The death took plaice at 11.30 o'clock last night at his son's (Mr. M. E. Perreau’s) residence, Lady’s Mile, of Mr. John Alfred Perreau, at the ripe old age of 98 years. The late Mr. Perreau was born in London in 1830 and was educated ii. Scotland. When 21 years of age he migrated-to New Zealand arriving in the ship “Heroes of Alma” in 1851 and proceeded to the Canterbury district where he followed farming .pursuits until 1868, when he arrived in Foxton. He farmed land a:t the south end of the borough for a iiumbelr of years. He was one of the first members of the Manawatu County Council, the boundaries of which Gounty in those days extended practically from Otalki to the Rangitiked river. He wa’s keenly interested . in all public affairs in the early days and did much to prolmote the advancement and progress of the district. He was a keen student of public affairs and devoted much of his time to reading. In 1894 be retired and took up his residence in Nelson, where -he resided until about seven years ago, when lie returned to Foxton. Of late years his sight and hearing handicapped him hut his general health was not seriously impaired until quite recently. He passed away peacefully in his sleep. lie leaves a widow, two sons (Messrs M. E. Perreau, Mayor of Foxton, and- G. Perreau, of Raupo, Dargaville), two daughters (Mesdames iWunoh of Wanganui, and-B. Stych of Auckland), twentytwo grandchildren and several great-grandchildren to mourn their loss. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon and will leave the residence of Mr. M. E. Perreau at 2.30 o’clock for the Foxton cemetery.