OBITUARY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 72, 16 March 1914, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR CEORCE RODDA. Another pioneer of New Zealand has passed away in the person of Mr George Rodda, who died on Thursday, March sth, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs T. Lamason, in Opunake Road. Deceased, who was in his eightieth year, was fyorn in Cornwall in 1834. His first experience of Colonial life was gained in Victoria on the famous Bendigo goldiields. After experiencing the usual tips and downs of a golddigser for a period of about ten $G9,\% JIo prgsseii the Tasman &ea and landed in Dunedin. The golddigging fever being still upon him, he tried his luck at Gabriel's Gully, Shotover, etc. After several years of the rough and tumble of those days lie migrated to the West Coast diggings. Landing at Greymouth, he, among others, with "bluey" up, tramped by beach and bush to Staffordtown. After following the mining operations for about six years he started a sawmilling business, in which he was engaged until 1904, when he retired and lived in Wellington till 1908. Since that he has been living with his daughter in Stratford. During his long and eventful life he filled many important and responsible positions, including Justice of the Peace, member of the Westland Education Board, local bodies and school committees, etc. He was always proud of the fact that he was one of the chief factors in introducing the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon to public life, and he was never tired of regaling his friends with interesting and striking details of his lmany old political battles.