OBITUARY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 9 January 1931, Page 7

OBITUARY

PROMINENT MARLBOROUGH SETTLER MR ALEX. WEAVER The sudden death of the late Mr Alexander Weaver, of Kaituna, at the Stafford Hospital, removes a prominent and highly respected figure from the public life of the district, reports the “Express.” Over a long period of years the deceased had served on various local and public bodies, rendering service of the highest value. He was a particularly able local body man, possessing a faculty for getting quickly to the root of a subject, and expressing definite and concise views in direct and unequivocal speech. In private life he was kindly and thoughtful, and lie won the respect of everyone who came into contact with him. Born in Nelson 63 years ago, he came to the Wairau when he was only three months old with the late Mr and Mrs William Weaver, who had adopted him following the death of his own mother. The Weavers settled in the Kaituna Valley, where they had a small holding. Times were exceedingly difficult in those early days, and the deceased had to leave school at the age of 13 years to take work at a flaxmill in, order to augment the family income. Following the tragic death of Mr Weaver, Snr., by drowning, the responsibility of the farm fell on the shoulders of the deceased, who revealed strong qualifications as a farmer. Gradually the holding in the Kaikoura was extended, and about 40 years ago Mr Weaver took up a considerable acreage of leasehold in the Waikakaho Valley, finally securing it under L.I.P. tenure. , This property he conducted successfully, along with mixed farming at Kaituna, but just after the war he disposed of the Waikakaho leasehold for the purposes of soldier settlement. He then became a representative of the Pelorus district on the Picton Hospital Board at the time when the Picton Hospital district embraced the Pelorus area. He early realised the disadvantages occuring to the Pelorus through being joined with Picton, and, with Mr C. Nees, the other Pelorus mem Tier, took n prominent part in promoting the movement which resulted in severance from Picton and attachment to the Wairau district. He was a member of the Masonic Order, and of the Foresters’ Lodge. The deceased is survived by a widow and a family of four sons—Messrs A. A. Charles, Colin and Mark Weaver, of Kaituna—and six daughters—Mrs J. MeMurray, Alberta, Canada. Mrs G. Marfell, Seaview, Mrs W. Boyce, Renwick, Mrs R. J. Nimmo, Wellington, Nurse M. Weaver, of the Stafford Hospital staff, and Miss Iris Weaver, of Kaituna. One son, Mr L. W. Weaver, succumbed as a result of war effects, while Mr Weaver was predeceased by one daughter. Nurse L. Weaver, of the Wairau Hospital.