Obituary.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43094, 18 May 1907, Page 3

Obituary.

THE LATE MR JOHN VEALE.

Another of the pioneers, and one who took a prominent part in the colonisation of this district, passed away on Monday morning, May 6th, in the person of the late Mr John Veale. Bom in the parish of dawton, near to Holesworthy, North Devon he came to New Zealand with his wife and children in the ship Hamilla Mitchell, Captain Bradley, in February, 1854, to join his parents and other members of the family who had come to Taranaki in 1841, amongst the founders of New Plymouth Settlement For some years past the deceased, owing to advancing years, had lived a quiet and retiring life, but in his younger days he took his full share of the duties ef citizenship. For many years he was a member of the New Plymouth Town Board, and filled the position of chairman of that body with credit to himself and to the k advantage of the ratepayers, his manage- • ment of the public works of the town being particularly sound. He was also one of the founders of the Taranaki Land, Building, and Investment Society, and held a seat on the directorate for a long period, retiring on the score of advancing years. As a contractor and builder his work was of the best; “ honesty is the best policy” was writ large in all he under/ took and carried out. Mr' Vealb was a ; regular and consistent member of the Wesley an body of this town, and although not taking an active part in the government of that body, he was constantly in office, holding honorary positions of trust, and waß even at the time of his death, in spite of his great age, the treasurer of the Sundayschool. By the death of this venerable old man, New Plymouth has lost a good citizen in every sense of the word, an honourable, charitable, God-fearing man who was always ready to take his share of work in the community in a quiet, unobtrusive way. His wife pre-deceased him by 29 years, and be leaves three sons and three daughters—viz., Thomas, Elisha and John, and Mrs J. Allen (Te i Aroha), Mrs J. 0. George, and Mrs W. Morey—also thirty-three grandchildren and twenty one great-grandchildren. The deceased entered his 94th year in January last, aed his general health was good to the last, his intellect being particularly clear. A fortnight before his death he was about the town as usual, and on the Thursday prior to the Monday on which he died he was able to discuss and taka an intelligent interest in tne coming election for the Taranaki seat.— “Budget,” Taranaki.