CLEVEDON.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 172, 9 May 1916, Page 3

CLEVEDON.

mk .james Mcknight DROWNED IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR Great glcom was cast over Clevec'on on Friday list when it became known that the body of Mr James Mcknight, J.P., one of the best known and mcst popular residents of Clevedon, had been found that morning floating in Auckland Harbour, in th 2 vicinity of King's Wharf. It is surmised that the deceased, who had gone to the city on business, was walking along the wnjrf on Thursday evening and pipped ovtr the edge in the dark ne.'-s. An imjucst was opened kj' fore the Coroner, Mr R C Cuttffi, on Saturday morning and ~ficer evid°nca of identification had Been given was adjourned until to- ■

Mr McKnigLt's untimely death u deplored by all who knew him. Generous and kind in nature ha unostentatiously performed many acta cf charity and rendered valuable as3istance to striving settlers. Born at Tarbalton, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1844 he waß an engineer by profession. As a buy he was apprenticed to some of the largest engineering firms in Scotland. His rise in his profession was so rapid that he was entrusted by the great engineering firm of Messrs Mirrlees, Watts and Co, Glasgow, with the erectkn cf sugar refining plants in Peru, Honolulu, Maui (Hawaiian Islands) and Queensland. He arrived in New Zealand in 1886, and the same year was married tj Miss McNicol, daughter of the late Mr Duncan McNicol, ot "Glenalvon," Clevedon. After bis marriage he went to Queensland to there erect a sugar works, but returned to and permanently settled in New Zealand four yeats later, purchasing the Wairoa butter factoiy at Clavedon, together with its creameries at Papakura Valley, Brooßby, Ardmore, Maetuitai and Ness Valley. At the time of his death he still owned and managed the butter factory, but the creameries had closed down. Mrs McKnight predeceased her husband by four years, but he is survived by two daughters, viz., Mrs A Barr and Miss N McKnight

The funeral took place at the Clevedon Presbyterian Cemetery on Sunday last, and was one of the largest ever witnessed in the district. The body was conveyed from Auckland bv motor hearse, a large party of leading Auckland business men following in motor care. The chief mourners were Messrs A ar.ri G McNicol, brothers-in-law, and J and W McNicnl, nephews ot the deceased. Among those present were Mr F A Harvey, representing Messrs Harvey and Som; Mr Smith, Messrs J Burns and Co.; Mr W N Latimer, Messrs Latimer and Co; Mr Lawrie, Messrs W S 1 awrie and Co; Messrs Ronanye, Allison and Bushell, Devenpcrt Ferry Company; Mr Barr; Mr S A Lnnguet, Mssstß A S Patterson and Co; Mr G M Juhnston, solicitor; all of Auckland; and Messrs A D Bell, W Duder, Luke, Walsh and McConaughey, Wairoa Koad Board; and Mr F Bepwortb, representing the Weiroa Butter Factory. The Rev Jacobsen officiated at the graveside

A public meeting was held in the Hall, Clevedon, on Saturday last, April 29tb, to consider the question of erecting a memoml to those local men who have gone to the front. Mr A 0 Bell presided, and explained that the meeting had been called at the suggestion of the Clevedon branch of the Farmers' Unior\ and that the object ot the meeting wa9 to devisa a scheme for the erection cf a substantial memorial, not necessarily to be erected in the immediate pieeetit, but in order that some decision might be artived at as to tlie form a memorial should take, its probable cost and the means of raising the amount necessary fir its erection. The meeting was entirely in favour of erecting a memorial, and after discussing the matter at some lentgh the following resjlutiors were unanimously carried:—"lhat steps be taken to formulate a scheme for the erection of a memorial to the local men who have served their country by active military service in the present war"; and "that the Road Board be asked to formulate h scheme to place before the public."