OBITUARY.

Shannon News, 2 July 1926, Page 3

OBITUARY.

MR REES WATKINS. •The passing of an old and highlyrespected citizen- was reported on Monday in the death at Levin, of Mr Rees Watkins, who had attained the ripe old age of 79 years, the sad event taking place at the residence of his daughter, Mrs A. James, of Victoria Street, Levin, after a painful illness. “ The late Mr Watkins arrived in New Zealand in 1874, coming from Swansea, South Wales, where ho had been a guard on the Great Western Railway for nine years. On his arrival in this country . applications were being called for the position of guard on the Hawke®, Bay railways and out of 240 he was successful. As each length of railway was laid he took the first train through, and continued in that capacity for some-20 years. For health reasons he had to discontinue in the railway service and was ordered a trip to the Old Country. On his return he took up his old position, but illness again necessitated his resigning from the service. Later .Mr Watkins moved to Wellington'‘where lie received an appointment as orderly on the staff of the House of Representatives, which he filled for fifteen years, becoming a familiar figure to frequenters of the precincts of Parliament, Upon retiring he*took up his residence in Levin, .where he has been living for the past two years. He was a prominent member of theWellington Orange Lodge, in which he had filled the various chairs. The deceased gentleman’s first wife died 25 years ago. Both the late Mr Watkins and his late wife were wellknown in musical and church circles in Hawkes Bay and Taranaki. They leave a fhmi-ly of three sons and" four daughters, Mesdames A. James (Levin 1 ), J. Murch (To Aroha), H. James (Palmerston North), RL Bishop (Shannon), and Messrs Geo. Watkins (Shannon), L. Watkins (Napier), I. Watkins (Levin). One son, Mr B. Watkins, died in 1914. The late Mr Watkins is survived by his second wife. The family will have the sincere sympathy of their friends in Shannon and Levin in their loss.