THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7875, 18 July 1905, Page 3

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER.

(ftr Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 17. An oM and respected resident of Parncll passed away is the person o( Mr Major Johii Gay, al the age of 6S years. The deceased gentleman, who was a builder, was for over forty years closely associated with the parish of Parncll, and [or the last IS years had occupied the position of People's Churchwarden at St. Mary's Cathedral. He was presented at the last annual meeting with an illuminated address and a service of plate. No one was so rich in reminiscences of the great pioneers of the Church ot England in New Zealand and Melanesia, and of Bishops Selwyu and Patterson, as the late Mr Gay. He was engaged by Bishop Selwyn to •build Bishopscourt, Parnell, and Bishop Patterson took him down to Norfolk Island, where he erected- the first building there for the Melanesian Mission. He was also closely associated in the earlv days with Sir William Martin, iii his younger days he served witii Hie Militia through the Maori war, for which lie received the New Zealand war medal.