OBITUARY.

Shannon News, 18 January 1929, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MR JOSEPH LIGGINS

Regret was felt throughout the district yesterday when the death of Mr Joseph Liggins, of Tokomaru, -was announced at the age of 78 years. One of the earliest settlers in the Manawatu, deceased had, by his kindly and cheerful nature, won an exceedingly wide circle of friends whose deep sym pathv will be extended to the widow and "family. . The late Mr Liggins was born at the small village of Measham, in the County of Derby, England, a year or two before the Crimean War and Indian' Mutiny years. Educated at the village school "under a type of schoolmaster of that time, he held various positions, and, with a vision in his mind of colonial life, he took a course (at what was then a novelty to farming .experience) in dairy work at Lord Vernon's private dairy factory at Sudbury, Derbyshire.. There lie fully equipped himself with a knowledge ot veterinary work, electricity and magnetism, bacteriology and chemistry. Eventually selecting New Zealand as his goal," with his wife and family, of six young children, Mr Liggins left England on board the British King, bound for Weliigton. On arrival he became a parti;cr in the firm of David Buiclc and Co’s dairy factory at Longburn. Travelling in those days was not so convenient- as in present times and the passage by coastal steamer from Wellington to Foxton was not , the most pleasurable recollection of Mrs Liggins, who had the care of the children on that journey. Soon after his arrival at Longbu.rn Mr Liggins met the late Mr Snelson, who had emigrated from the ancient town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, three miles from 'Meas'liam and they often renewed their remembrances of the Old Country.

Upon • the (Manawatu Railway Co. selling land at Tokomaru, Mr Liggins bought a section, and after battling with it in its then rough condition, he brought it into its present high state of production. Flax of good quality was for some years his chief stand-by, but cattle and cultivation were las chief objects. He established the Ashlea herd of Friesians and had varied successes in the show ring, but gave moie attention to milk producing qualities in his animals than in concentrating on exhibiting. As president of the Flaxmillers’ Association at one period, he gave excellent ser.viee to the industry and on his visits Home lie interested himself largely in investigating, all possible -channels of research in the utilisation of the fibre. He was also intensely interested in the Manawatu A. ami P. Association, of - which he was a foundation member and for many years a member of the committee and a vicepresident. The Makerua Drainage Board had for some years the benefit of his great experience, and the success of the work done by the board will be a memorial of the years during which he was a member and chairman. In the establishment of the dairy factories in the vicinity of Tokomam he was keenly interested and as. member of the board of difeclors, and at various periods chairman, he did yeoman service to the farming community of the district.

Deceased, who had been in indifferent health for the last six months, is survived by his wife and family — Charles, Sam, Harry, and Joseph, together with the daughters, Mrs -Williams, Mrs Gardner and Mrs Jos. Smith.