EARLY RESIDENT DIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1036, 29 July 1930, Page 14

EARLY RESIDENT DIES

SERVED IN MAORI WAR MR. W. H. BUTLER A life of 84 years in New Zealand ended with the death of Mr. William Henry Butler, of 24 Edenvale Road, Mount Eden. He came to the Dominion as a baby with his parents in 1847 >n the ship Ramifies, and as a youth lie served in the Maori War. Mr. Butler was 16 years old when the war broke out, and his parents then moved from their original home at Onehunga to a house in Newton, which is stil: standing. In the militia which he joined, Mr. Butler fought at Raglan, Te Horo, Te Awamutu and Orakau After tlie war, he for some time carted stores and other necessities for the soldier settlers at Kihiklhl. He then returned to Auckland, and was engaged in painting and decorating until his retirement at the age of 77 years. He went to Thames during the gold rush, but carried on his tra.de in preference to prospecting, as tradesmen of all kinds were in great demand. He afterward spent a few years in Hamilton, and later a year in Oamaru. When he returned to Auckland he went into partnership for a time, but worked independently most of the time Mr. Butler continued to live in Newton. He could remember when there was a creek a ong the bottom of the gully and the slopes were covered with tea-tree and scrub. After nearly 40 years’ residence in Newton he moved to the Mount Eden district, where he lived for the last 19 years of his life. Though he retired in 1923. he was still an active man, and spent much of his time in gardening and caring for his property. He had never taken part in public life. Mr. Butler was married at the age of 24, and Mrs. Butler is still living, and is 78 years old. The couple celebrated their golden wedding eight years ago. The only surviving child is Mrs. E L, Jonas, of View Road, Mount Eden.