Obituary

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 7

Obituary

MR. r. HARDING. The death occurred at the Auckland Hospital on January 30, at the age of 74 years, of Mr. Frank Harding, of Wellsford, North Auckland. Mr. Harding arrived in New Zealand more than 60 years ago at the age of 12, and with his father and other members of the family settled in Woodville, on what is now the Woodville racecourse. He helped in th e felling of the first bush in the district, and with his father built a home for the family-. Ho was one of the foundation members of the Woodville Agricultural and Pastoral Association, in which he took a keen interest until he left the district. On the outbreak of the South African War, Mr. Harding left New Zealand with the First Contingent, but was invalided homo with enteric fever. He had always been interested in volunteering and was a member of the first Volunteer corps established some 50 years ago. When the movement was revived he became a sergeant and was a member of the first team to win the Coleman Shield. On his return from South Africa, Mf. Harding married Miss Newbury, of Palmerston North, who survives him. His eldest son, Frank, was killed in an Auckland tramcar accident some 13 years ago, but three sons, Leslie, Cyril and Charles, of the North Auckland province, aro still living. There are five brothers —George (Hawera), Percy (Whangarei), Edgar and Lex (Woodville), and Arnold (Hamilton).