AN OLD PIONEER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10611, 9 June 1920, Page 3

AN OLD PIONEER

DEATH OF MR JOHN CUDBY. A link with the early days of Wellington has heen broken hy the death of Mr John Francis Cudby, which occurred at his residence, Railway avenue, Lower Hutt, yesterday morning, t.v staunch pioneer, Mr Cudby had lived in the Lower Hutt district since ‘he was a boy, and his experiences form an unwritten volume, telling of the perseverance and hardships of the early settlors who did their part in paving the way for the more fortunate generations to come. Endowed with a retentive memory, he could remember many incidents of the qldj. days, and so far as is known, he was the only survivor in the Dominion of the Imperial soldiers who fought in Hone Heßo’s war in the north m 1846; and of the campaign in the Hutt Valley in 1846.

Mr Cudhy was born in Essex in 1828, and camo out to New Zealand with Eord Pctre as a Itm in 1843 in the ship Commerce Sparks. From the time of his arrival in the country to the day of his death, he resided at Lower Hutt. At first he lived and worked on the Woburn estate. Afterwards he became the owner of large livery stables near the railway station. Ho retired from active participation in the business some forty years' ago, but continued to take a very lively interest in the affaire of the district. He was a valued member of the Lower Hutt Borough Council for many years. He was. also a member of the Licensing Committee, and as a Justice of the Peace for over thirty years was a familiar figure on the Hutt Magistrate’s Court bench. He resigned from the Commission of the Peace two years ago. In the early days of the Wellington Racing Club lie held the office of crerK of the course. In friendly society work ho was a staunch supporter, and he held the record of seventy years’ membership of the Oddfellows Lodge. The deceased .gentleman, who enfoyed good health until two years ago, leaves a family of five sons and three daughters. The sons are: James, living at Lower Hutt; Charles, at Hanntvirke; Henry, Alfredton; George, Rangiora; and Walter, Lower Hutt. The daughters are: Mrs J. Fleet, Petone; Mrs Turner, Lower Hutt; and Mrs E. D. Dunne, Wellington. Mrs Cudby, who was also an early settler, having come out from Paisley, Scotland, in the Janet Nicol, died twelve years ago. . At yesterday's meeting of the Hutt County Council a motion of sympathy was passed with the deceased's relatives, the members standing as a mark of respect.