MR. WALTER STEELE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 393, 30 November 1932, Page 4

MR. WALTER STEELE

Mr. Walter Steele, who iy yeslerday mb'rning as the u irijuries received at his Maniaj mill oh Mbridby was one of, of eight. He was born at OI March 12, 1874, and spent | part of his life irf the counfe Tamahere, Waikato. Many he started sawmilling with' H ers in a small way in husK, ahout four miles from Mamal . They commenced with a, then iristalled a small engj gradually increased the pia; the riame of Steele Bros. The part Of the early output f mill was sent to Rotorua, ? that time was in its inf® ceased with his love of as experimented on original 1 developed an oil engine fitted up as a rail tractor, oi •first in New Zealand.

Ahout the ,time of the ou| the Great War another j erected nearer .Mamaku as ginal hush had heen woh Pumice drying works wereaii ed within two miles of Ro'« second of their kind in New! Aftbr tii'e termm.Stibn bfj Mr. Steelfe went into partneri his hrother-in-law, the fiit knbwh as Steele aiid: HeniiE; they acquired stands. of pintfs from farmers around Tirau a: hridge. This timber wasi large sizes and shipped toi tb niake hoxes and pacla; i The second Mamaku mill wa: down in 1924, but at this t Steele was husy erecting aj more up-to-date one iri the having acquired further husli th'e railway line. This mili erated hy Steele Bros, Ltd,,t time of his death. A new, j engine had just heen installed he never lived tb see it wort As a Justice of the Peace, of tlie Rotorua County Gbt members of the High Scho: the late Mr? Steele rendered conimunity service. Hewasa! ly interested in all sports Mamaku tennis and h'ocfc came under his special care, In 1902 he married Eir Hemmings, of Woodleigh, G! ray. He is survived by his four sbns and four daUghteii wh'om are married and res Sydney. All the sons are livii district.

The Dominion has lost o: most useful citizens and the has siiifered ari irreparablelt death of Mr. Walter Steele. Quiet, unassuming, and kic: his Ways, he gained and held: tion of all who met him brought to him knowledge oi and wisdom of speech Eei his opinions, and ehary t judgment, his conversationwe informative He brought toi his life's work a practical, I mind An, expert among es the timber trade, he was vati wh'ef e improvemettts is tion and economy in costwl ohtaiued Qf his workmehs hewas keenly solicitous. His in this matter may he sunu his own, words to "the wrife week ago: "At one time 1 1: had 50 men working for: now I know I am working for! His was a splendid career oi No finer gentleman in tt: deed, no finer workman in! action, no kindlier husband,! friend has passed to the Higt ment from Rotorua than ! Steele. ^