MR A. E. GRIFFITHS

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 120, 14 May 1954, Page 5

MR A. E. GRIFFITHS

The death occurred in Hastings on Thursday, May 6, of Mr Alfred Evan Griffiths, of 419 Brunswick Street, Hastings. By his death a link with the early history of the Napier-Taupo Road was severed. Born at Auckland 85 years ago, Mr Griffiths was a son of the late Mr Evan Griffiths, who was a butcher for the Armed Constabulary during the Maori wars and who took part in many long marches, including one from Waitara, in Taranaki, to Tarawera. Set-tling at Tarawera, Mr Evan Griffiths established a coach service between Napier and Taupo. He was killed when his coach crashed into the Mohaka river. The horses and Mr Griffiths were drowned but all the passengers were saved.

Mr Alfred Griffiths at this time was only 16 years of age but he took over the coach service to Taupo: He married Miss Adelaide Reading, of Napier, and continued the coach service until it was eventually taken over by Messrs. Crowther and McCauley at the end of the last century. About 46 years ago Mr Griffiths took up farming at Omakere, and then at Tarawera, and was later manager of Apley Station, Rissington, for Nelson Bros. He retired ten years ago.