OBITUARY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 576, 19 October 1920, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR. JEREMIAH HICKEY, "No. 2." A very old resident of Pukekohe, in the person of Mr. Jeremiah Hickey, passed away at the Thames Hospital on October 16 at the age of 84. Mr. Jeremiah Hickey came to Pukekohe about half a century ago, when the place was mostly in standing bush. He lived at what was known as Cape Settlement, following the pursuit of farming. Though not one who could be called a public man, Mr. Hickey was nevertheless extremely well-known to the public, mainly on account of his inherently combative disposition. An old resident relates that there were two Jeremiah Hickeys in Pukekohe, and although both worshipped at the same church they did not seem to have inherited or acquired a»very large measure of that sweet reasonableness and brotherly love which makes for smooth relationships, for they were always quarrelling. And there being two of the same name confusion often arose, so one was dubbed Jeremiah No. 1, and the other Jeremiah No. 2, the deceased beingknown by the latter numeral. He, was a sUiunch fighter for what he considered his rights, and rarely did the local road board meet without a petition being presented by him on some matter affecting his interests By all accounts, Jeremiah :*o- I did make Pukekohes pioneers knowthat he was abroad in the land, and he stirred up quite a lot of interest •locally, and added to the gaiety of a community that was wholly dependent on its own resources for its entertainment. Old residents will much regret the demise of so picturesque a character. The funeral takes place at the Catholic Cemetery. Pukekohe. to-day. One son and three daughters are bereaved. • „ 1 IMI Deceased also leaves 18 grand-child-ren and two great-grancl-children. Mrs Hickey, wife of deceased, whose death occurred at the Thames about five vears ago, was acquainted with Pukekohe in its earliest days when the site of the present township was covered with dense bush. Born in 1843 in Dublin. Ireland, she left the Old Country and went to South Africa, where she spent a couple of vears. From Cape lown she came out to New Zealand and landed in Auckland in January, 18(55, in which city about a month latei she married Mr. Jeremiah Hickey. whom she previously met in Cape Town. Mr. and Mrs. Hickey proceeded direct to Pukekohe and settled on what was then known as the Cape Settlement in the vicinity of the existing Roman Catholic Church, where they have ever since lived.

MR. THOMAS GRAY USHER. Another old identity. Mr. Thomas Gray Usher, aged 81, passed away last night. Deceased carried on business in Pukekohe as a butcher for 35 years, ami was also clerk to the old Pukekohe Road Board. In the very early days he followed the occupation of mining, and was well-known far and wide. The funeral will leave his late re sidcnce at 3.15 p.m. to-morrow. MRS. C. R. SHEPPARD. The death occurred on October 17 of Mrs. C. R. Sheppard, wife of Mr. C. R. Sheppard of Patumahoe, at the age of 35. " The funeral takes place at the Catholic Cemetery, Pukekohe, to-day.