OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 24874, 14 October 1942, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR EDWARD TOLLEY Mr Edward Tolley, who died yesterday at Lomeville, at the age of 84, had a unique record of long service in the freezing industry in New Zealand. He worked as a slaughterman when the industry was first established 60 years ago and he still had his place on the board at the Makarewa works until about two years ago. He was then 82, but in spite of his years he held his own against much younger men.

MR EDWARD TOLLEY

Mr Tolley worked as a slaughterman at the old Ngahauranga freezing works near Wellington in the days when the industry was in its infancy. Later he was employed as a slaughterman in various parts of New Zealand and Australia. He was employed at Makarewa for 10 or 12 years. In his younger days he was a noted competitor in walking contests and and won matches against such redoubtable men as Joe Scott and Bone. On one occasion he defeated Bone in a 25-mile walking contest in the old Zealandia Hall, Invercargill. MR ARTHUR CURWOOD The death occurred at Oamaru recently of Mr Arthur Curwood at the age of 75 years after an unusually varied and interesting career. Born in Somerset on July 10, 1867, Mr Curwood began his education at the age of five years and terminated it five years later when he started work at a flourmill on a weekly wage of 2/-. He later worked on a farm, but then became apprenticed to a carpenter. An opportunity to go to sea came soon after in a position as ship’s carpenter. Mr Curwood spent many adventurous years at sea, and during his travels visited New Zealand on two occasions. He was so impressed with the country that he determined to leave his ship on the next visit. His opportunity came when his ship called at Bluff, and he secured employment on the building of the Ocean Beach Freezing Works, and in doing harbour work. He lived in Napier for a time, but later returned to Bluff to work for the Bluff Harbour Board. During the dredging boom Mr Curwood built many dredges, and later, when the Waimea Estate was cut up, he was granted the Mid Dome run, where he built a flax mill. After selling out at a great loss in 1904, he secured the contract for the ' building of a large fluming at Waipori. In ; 1910 he began work with the Oamaru Har- • bour Board as foreman of works, a position which he held until his retirement in 1938. Mr Curwood was predeceased by his wife, 1 and is survived by three daughters—Mes- > dames V. Barker (Oamaru), Bennett (Waianakarua), and V. Nicholson (Bluff), and J four sons—Messrs John, Alfred and Joseph Curwood, all of Oamaru, and Mr Herbert . Curwood, who is at present in the armed j forces. j