OBITUARY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 452, 29 July 1919, Page 2

OBITUARY.

Mr Alfred Oldham. There passed away in Auckland last week "a link with the past" in the death of the late Alfred Oldham aged 89 years. The deceased came to this province in the ship " Mermaid" that arrived in Auckland Harbour on October 9th 1859, after a voyage of 100 days. After a few weeks stay in Aucklad a number of the passengers formed a party that ultimately settled on a block of land near Mangawai SO miles North of Auckland. From here the deceased and his family removed to Maungatoroto where they took up a section of land covered in virgin bush, and establish a home, residing ther6 till in 1872, when in conjunction with another old Colonist (the late Mr Tinne) they established a flax mill at Kaihu, North Wairoa,here for 3 years working one of the earliest Flaxmilling plants in the Auckland district.

Then followed auothor removal to the Kaipara, and at Paparoa the deceased established a Flax matting factory, but handicapped here for supplies of the raw material, the machinery and plant, in the interests of the business, was removed to Tuakau in the Waikato in 1878, over 40 vears ago. For some 20 years from the above date, Tuakau was probably the Provincial main centre of the Flaxmilling business. Some 20 years ago the deceased re tired from business, settling in the City, where his wife predeceased him some 18 years ago. The late Mr Oldham was a Method •ist and a lay leader for over 60 years He preached the first sermon in many of the North Auckland district where, for 20 years he did the work of a miseionary and whilst working in conjunction with the late Rev. Gittos, he repeatedly came into touch with the late Bishop Selwyn. In the Tuakau district, as a local preacher for over 20 years, he did faithful work for his church. The outlying churches of the Tuakau district included Mauku, Bombay, Pokeno and Waiuku, and to these and other appointments the deceased more often walked in preference to riding or driving. The deceased is survived by 40 grand-children (5 of whom served in the war ) 19 great grand-children and by 5 sons and 3 daughters as follows Mr W. Oldham, Waiuku. Herbert Oldham of Auckland, Arthur Oldham of Avondale, Alfred Oldham of Rotorua, and George Oldham of Frankton. The daughters are Mrs G. S. Braithwaite, Ponsonby, Mrs R. Hampton, Marton and Mrs E. 8. Pegler Manurewa. The Rev. Martin of Pukekohe conducted the funeral service at the Tuakau Cemetery. The Martin and Cowley families, late of Manurewa, were shipmates of the deceased.

running the business on lines in keeping with progressive ideas. We may mention that the Oldham family has been closely identilied with the earlier history of this district, Mr Oldham's father having been farm in» in the I'uni district for some years subsequent to his removal from Tubkfiu. whore he had lived for some considerable time.

Mr Oldli am is a discharged soldier, having recently returned to Now Zealand per h.s. Ilororata after throe and a-half years' active servico in Egypt and Franco.