LATE W. MONKHOUSE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 12, 8 December 1916, Page 3

LATE W. MONKHOUSE.

13y the last mail from England arrived papers recording the death of Mr W. Monkhouse. whose connection with this district in the early days will he well remembered. From the “Evesham Journal and Four Shires Advertiser,” published in Evesham Worcester, we republish the obituary notice, which was as follows:

It was with widespread and sincere regret that the sad news was received in Broadway on Friday that Mr William Monkhouse, of the Croft, had that afternoon passed away in a nursing home in Birmingham. 1 Mr Monkhouse had been unwell for some time, and on medical,advice went to .Birmingham the previous week for the purpose of undergoing an operation. The same was successfully performed on Thursday last, but Mr Monkhouse’s strength proved unequal to the strain and he died from heart failure on Friday afternoon. General sympathy is expressed for Mrs Monkhouse and family in their bereavement. Mr Monkhouse was the elder son of Mr J. W. Monkhouse, a Manchester manufacturer living at Disley, Lancashire, and was born in IHo-l. He was educated at a private school at Barnard Castle, and afterwards assisted his father in his weaving works at Barnard Castle and Manchester. About thirty years ago Mr Monkhouse emigrated to New Zealand and purchased an estate in the county of Stratford, and province of Taranaki in the'North Island. The estate was then in its primaeval bush state, Mr Monkhouse being the first settler in that district. With characteristic energy he cleared the timber and burnt the scrub, seeded the ground with grass and clovers, and started stock farming. He named the house that he built thereon Lowgarth, and lived there till he saw the neighbourhood a great milk producing centre, and the surrounding district called Lowgarth after the name of his own house.

In 1903 the homing instinct and family claims drew him back to England, and on leaving New Zealand he was presented with a public testimonial and an illuminated address inscribed on vellum and bound in morocco, in which was set forth the esteem in which he was held by-all his neighbours*, and some of the good/ work that lie hail done in that colony. During his tjventy-lhree years’ residence in New Zealand Mr Monkhouse took active part in the public life of the colony. Amongst other positions held ho was for many years a member of the Stratford County Council, of which he at length became chairman, he was also chairman of the Hospital Hoard, and chairman of the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, a member of the Taranaki Education Hoard, and also sat on the local Licensing Hench. On

two occasions lie gallantly fought a difficult contest as candidate for the Pa tea Division against the nominee of the powerful Seddon Government. On his leaving, men of all parties united to hear testimony to his work an\l worth, and high character, and the address presented stated that “thoroughness and integrity had characterised all his actions, his standard of life-both public and private had been

:i high one, <aml had uudoutedly had its effect on the tone and the life of tho district.” i After a year spent in travelling and looking around Mr Monkhouse decided to settle in Broadway, and in 1909 purchased a portion of the Low Farm estate from Mr H. A. Badham. There on a high site with , charming outlook he built The Croft, and planted the surrounding acre’s with choice fruit trees, between which he grew vegetables and small fruits in a way that successfully competed with other market gardeners of the district. It was characteristic of Mr Moukhonse that he eschewed “topping” and all its ways, and sent his fruit to market with a guarantee of uniform quality and full weight with a result that was satisfactory to himself as well as to the buyers, his stuff always making the top price of the market.

Mr Monkhouse also gave a considerable portion of his time and thought to the welfare of the locality' in which he had come to reside. He was soon elected a member of the Parish Council, on which he sat without break, and in the proceedings of which he took an active part. It was largely due to his statesmanship that the proposals for the building of cottages by the local authority that had played a part in parish and district council elections for many preceding years was at length taken up and approved by the Parish Council, and at its request adopted and carried out by the District Council. Mr Monkhouse was also throughout his period

of residence a member of the contmitt.ee of the Broadway Working Men’s Cluh ami Institute, and for several past years its indefatigable secretary. Besides keeping the institution going on its general lines lie took a special interest and pleasure in getting up lectures and debates on the leading subjects and questions of the day, which had a considerable educative influence. Mr Monkhnuse was also secretary of the Broadway Choral Society, and corresponding secretary jof the Boardway branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Mr Monkhonse was also a member of the general committee that erected the Lifford Memorial Hall, and only the week before his death was appointed a member of the committee elected to carry out a scheme for the preservation of Broadway Old Church. Mr Monkhonse was a member of the Established Church, and though not a party man was in imperial and local politics progressive in the true ’sense of the term. Personally he was a charming man, considerate and kind hearted, In* was esteemed by those who know him least, and loved by those who knew him best. Of him it might truly he said that in all places and amongst all classes “he bore without abuse the grand old name of gentleman,” and his death is a distinct loss to the public life of Broadway.

The funeral took place on Tuesday morning at Willersev Church, where Mr Monkhouse and his family had been accustomed to worship. Karly

in the morning the body .had been removed to the church, where there was a celebration of the Holy Communion, attended by all the members ot the family. At eleven o’clock the fnneia! service was conducted by the Hectojr (the Rev. H. Highley), the surpliccdr choir being present. Psalm xc. was chanted, and the hymns “Read ns

Heavenly Father” and “0 Cod our help in ages past” were. sung. Ihe organist (Miss Knight) also played the Dead March in “Saul.” '1 he cotfin, which was of unpolished oak with massive brass fittings, bore on the breast plate the inscription “William Monkhouse, horn May (i, 1854, died September 15, 191(3.”