An Old Identity.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 71, 16 February 1883, Page 2

An Old Identity.

A very ota*; identity, (writes the. Mangonui correspondent of the Auckland Herald) perhaps the oldest New Zealand identity, has passed the Stjx— in the person of Henry Pearson. Accord* ing to his own showinjj, he has been ia the colony between 50 and 60 years, and at the time of his death was about 80 years of _ Dur^^jftrjj^ days he carried on the business" of a " trader oa the, East Coast, and seemed to have done a fair amount of tradejrith the natives. Fora numSer *ef "yeartf he lived at Rangiawhia with a half-caste woman, and was remarkable for his hospitality to any European who. happened to visit that £art of tbiV'' district. Of late years he has lived by himself at Otengi, near Mangonui. About a fortnight ago he vitnteii Mangonui, bot the ohange didi ndtL agree with him, and he gradually sank. , away. He died at the Settlers' Hotel on Tuesday, the 30th January. On Tuesday there was a sort of a 'wake held over him. The place where he wiii? ljing was decorated with: flowers, and < the 'necessary pipes and tobacco wereo provided, free of cost, to any one who' | liked to .indulge, by Mr. Grogan* 66j | the settlers' Hotel. : His remains a were interred m the Church, of England i bury ing-ground on Wednesday, the 3lst January. The old man wio usually. performs! -the duty of v. graven >• digger seemed quite overcome. .: