OBITUARY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 250, 19 September 1940, Page 10

OBITUARY.

AIR JAMES ALBERT SPALL. The death occurred recently of one of the best-known and most respected farmers ■of the district, Air James Albert Spall, of Whakarongo. He was 58 years old. Air Spall was born in Cobden, AUeto.ria, and educated at Colac. He came to New Zealand early in the century, landing at Dunedin, and worked in the South Island for two years. He. then came to the Alanawatu district, first working at Aokautere and then for Air G. AlcCarthy, a contractor. He left this to take rip a position on ' the Kairanga County Council’s staff, and after some years took up contracting work again, under Air D. Burke, for whom he worked in various parts of the country. One of the undertakings he was engaged in was the building of the Takapau bridge. He later worked again for .Air AlcCarthy and then started on his own account, carting flax. He later took up contracts for road-making, one of the roads he made being Riddiford’s Road. Air Spall could recall having journeyed from Palmerston North to AA 7 ellington by dray in three days, arriving on the day the steamer Penguin was wrecked. He went to Australia in 1914, just before the Great AA 7 ar broke out. and on his return was employed bv tlie Kairanga County Council again. He was rejected as unfit for military service, and eventually took up his farming property at AA 7 hakarongo in August, 1918. Two months before that he had married Miss Stump, of Tasmania.

Through his efforts Air, Spall’s farm became one of the best in the district, and to-day is looked on as a model. One of the first problems lie had to face was that of the river, which came on to the back boundary of his land. He succeeded in shifting its course and his property is now one of the best protected in the locality. From the dairying point of view he was looked on as one of the most successful farmers ever to come to the AA r hakarongo district.. He was not timid of paying good prices for animals he wanted and this, and a top-dressing system and sub division, helped to bring his farm to its present state. Mr Spall had many friends in AVhakarongo, Palmerston North, and the surrounding district. He was known as a most reliable man, and did much good in the district, where his loss is severely felt. Mr Spall found time to bo associated with numerous public activities. H» was a director of the Whakarongo Dairy Company for 16 years (from 1921 till the company ceased its activities). He was senior advisory officer of the AA 7 hakarongo A T oung. Farmers’ Club, and a vice-president of the Palmerston North Y.M.C.A. Harrier Club. He was a life member of the Cosmopolitan Club and was also a member of the Alanawatu Scottish Society’s Highland Pipe Band, the AA 7 hakarongo National Club and the Alanawatu and Coast A. and P. Association. He joined the Independent Order of Oddfellows’ Lodge in 1904 and was a Phst Grand Master of the Palmerston North Lodge. Air Spall is survived by his wife and two sons, Messrs J. F. and G.. H. Spall, both of AA’hakarongo; and one brother, Air E. Spall (Arictoria. Australia),