“Not For Self” DEATH AT 104

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 527, 3 December 1928, Page 9

“Not For Self”

DEATH AT 104

TAURANGA’S GRAND OLD MAN MR. WILLIAM DARRAGH, SENR. (From Our Own Correspondent) TAURANGA, To-day. At the great age of 104 years, Mr. William Darragh, senr., Tauranga’s oldest resident, died on Saturday night. He was one of the best known and respected residents of the district. He was an early settler at Ka.tika.ti, and later removed to Tauranga, buying a farm just outside of the town, where he resided with a son up to the time of his death. Mr. Darragh was never quite sure of his actual birthday, but he always used to celebrate it on Easter Sunday. A few years ago he injured a leg while ploughing on his farm, and this prevented him from getting about without assistance. Except for this he retained all his faculties. His memory was excellent and, lie would relate with gusto many amusing incidents which happened to him on his way to New Zealand from England in a sailing ship when he was a young man. His three sons, Messrs. William, Samuel and James Larragh, all reside in the Tauranga district. His wife died many years ago. There are several grandchildren, but no greatgrandchildren. Mr. Larragh was a staunch supporter of the Reform Party, and at the by-election, when Mr. C. E. Macmillan was first elected to represent Tauranga. the late Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, insisted on Mr. Larragh being the first man to record bis vote in Tauranga, and personally took him to the poll.